6. The Environmental Movement
The Environmental Movement awakened a national consciousness about the planet’s fragility with the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962. This pivotal work inspired the first Earth Day in 1970, mobilizing millions and prompting the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). America’s environmental activism echoed—and sometimes led—global efforts to protect natural resources and combat pollution. Today, the movement remains vital as new generations address climate change and sustainability.
