The Dual Legacy of Dynamite

This chapter examines the life of a scientist who transformed nitroglycerin into dynamite, driven by personal tragedy and a vision for safer construction. It delves into the impact of this invention on both infrastructure development and its subsequent appropriation by anarchists for political violence in early 20th-century America. Through the lens of historical events and key figures, it reveals the complex relationship between technology, activism, and the philosophical roots of anarchism.