Chapter 24 Section 4
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During the 1970s, Americans
strengthen their efforts to address
the nation’s environmental problems.
Section 4: Environmental Activism: The Roots of
Environmentalism
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring warns against use
of pesticides
argues poisons kill food, harmless animals as well
as pests
Becomes best seller; leads JFK to establish
advisory committee
chemical companies claim book inaccurate,
threaten suits
Carson starts national focus on environmental
issues
Chapter 24 Section 4
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The First Earth Day
Earth Day—celebration
highlighting environmental
awareness
First observed 1970 by
communities, thousands of
schools, colleges
The Government Takes Action
Nixon not an environmentalist—
active protector of environment
Signs Clean Air Act, creates
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
main government arm on
environmental issues
1970s, Congress passes 35 laws
on conservation, clean up
Chapter 24 Section 4
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Environmental Concerns in the
1970s
Balancing Progress and
Conservation in Alaska
Pipeline creates jobs, revenue,
worries over wildlife, native
people
Nixon gives millions of acres to
native tribes for conservation, use
Carter sets aside 56 million acres
as national monuments
1980, Congress adds 104 million
acres as protected areas
Chapter 24 Section 4
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The Debate over Nuclear Energy
Many think nuclear power good
alternative to foreign oil
Opponents contend nuclear plants, waste potentially
harmful
Environmental Concerns in the 1970s
Three Mile Island
March 1979, reactor at Three Mile Island nuclear
plant malfunctions
Low-level radiation escapes; 100,000 people
evacuated from area
Incident rekindles debate over safety of nuclear
power
Nuclear Regulatory Commission strengthens safety
standards
- also improves inspection procedures
Chapter 24 Section 4
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In the end, the reactor was brought under control,
although full details of the accident were not
discovered until much later, following extensive
investigations by both a presidential commission
and the NRC.
The Kemeny Commission Report concluded that
"there will either be no case of cancer or the number
of cases will be so small that it will never be possible
to detect them.
The same conclusion applies to the other possible
health effects."Several epidemiological studies in
the years since the accident have supported the
conclusion that radiation releases from the accident
had no perceptible effect on cancer incidence in
residents near the plant, though these findings have
been contested by one team of researchers
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Chapter 24 Section 4 Quiz
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1.) What is the celebration highlighting
environmental awareness called?
a.) Natural Resource Day
b.) Earth Day
c.) Conservation Day
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6.) What happened at Three Mile island?
a.) Radiation escaped
b.) Prisoners of war escaped
c.) An attempt to overthrow the Government was
executed
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2.) When was this event first celebrated?
a.) 1970
b.) 1960
c.) 1980
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3.) What did Carter set aside 56 million acres for?
a.) New built cities
b.) Land for farmers to claim
c.) National Monuments
7.) What conclusions did scientific researchers
come to about the Three Mile Island
incident?
a.) That cancer outbreak did not increased due to
this incident
b.) That the incident would cause cancer in most
people within a 2 mile radius
c.) That the incident would cause cancer in most
people with a 100 mile radius
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4.) What agency did the Clean Air Act create?
a.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
b.) Americans for Conservation Agency (ACA)
c.) Earth Day Agency (EDA)
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5.) What type of energy did many people think was
a good alternative to foreign oil?
a.) Biodiesel energy
b.) Non renewable energy
c.) Nuclear energy
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8.) What was the reaction to these results?
a.) They went uncontested
b.) The public demanded that all nuclear energy
be abandoned
c.) It has been contested by a group of scientist
9.) How were environmental movements received
in the 1970’s?
a.) They were rejected because Americans wanted
their energy
b.) They gained support
c.) The American Public paid very little attention
to the issues
10.) What did opponents of environmental
movements mostly debate?
a.) That they would lead to job loss
b.) That they would lead to bad foreign relations
due to not using foreign oil
c.) That their tactics were wasteful