8.13 The Environment and Natural Resources from 1968 to 1980

Rising environmental consciousness

By the late 1960s, industrial pollution, oil spills, and books like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring raised alarm about environmental damage. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill and a burning Cuyahoga River shocked the public. This spurred the first Earth Day (1970) and a broad grassroots environmental movement demanding government action to protect air, water, and land.

Federal environmental legislation

Under President Nixon, the federal government created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 1970) to enforce regulations. Congress passed the Clean Air Act (1970), Clean Water Act (1972), and Endangered Species Act (1973), expanding federal power to regulate pollution and protect wildlife habitats nationwide.

Energy crisis and limits to growth

The 1973 OPEC oil embargo caused gas shortages and long lines, exposing America's dependence on foreign oil. This energy crisis pushed conservation efforts, lower highway speed limits, and interest in alternative energy sources, while also highlighting tensions between economic growth, consumer consumption, and environmental protection.

Key terms

Silent Spring

Rachel Carson's 1962 book warning about pesticide dangers, helping spark the environmental movement.

Earth Day (1970)

First held in April 1970, it mobilized millions and launched the modern environmental movement.

EPA (1970)

Environmental Protection Agency, created by Nixon to enforce federal environmental regulations.

Clean Air & Clean Water Acts

1970 and 1972 laws regulating pollution emissions and protecting water quality nationwide.

1973 OPEC Oil Embargo

Cut off oil exports to the U.S., causing gas shortages and highlighting dependence on foreign energy.

Try an AP-style question

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (1962) warned about…

1. nuclear war with the USSR
2. oil spills in the Gulf
3. urban air pollution only
4. the dangers of pesticides like DDT