4 Step-by-Step Instruction 4 A 1962 cartoon shows a man choking on fumes from a pesticide he uses to kill a fly. 䊳 WITNESS HISTORY Objectives As you teach this section, keep students focused on the following objectives to help them answer the Section Focus Question and master core content. • Assess the causes and effects of the environmental movement. • Analyze why environmental protection became a controversial issue. AUDIO An Environmental Wake-up Call SECTION SECTION hsus_te_ch17_s04_s.fm Page 698 Thursday, January 15, 2009 8:11 PM “There once was a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings. . . . Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change. Mysterious maladies swept across the flocks of chickens; the cattle and sheep sickened and died. . . . There was a strange stillness. The birds, for example—where had they gone? . . . On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh. . . . No witchcraft, no enemy action had silenced the rebirth of new life in this stricken world. The people had done it to themselves. —Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962 ” 䊱 Rachel Carson The Environmental Movement Prepare to Read Background Knowledge L3 Remind students that many activists of the 1960s fought against injustice to improve the world around them. Ask students to predict how some came to believe that this improvement needed to include protection of Earth’s ability to support life. Set a Purpose Objectives • Assess the causes and effects of the environmental movement. • Analyze why environmental protection became a controversial issue. Terms and People Rachel Carson toxic waste Earth Day EPA Clean Air Act Clean Water Act Endangered Species Act Why It Matters The “rights revolution” of the 1960s and 1970s eventually influenced all aspects of American life—including people’s right to a clean and safe environment. The story told by Rachel Carson pointed out that human actions were harming not only the environment but people themselves. Public awareness of environmental issues prompted an important debate about the government’s role in environmental regulations. Section Focus Question: What forces gave rise to the environmental movement, and what impact did it have? L3 쐍 WITNESS HISTORY Read the selec- tion aloud, or play the audio. Witness History Audio CD, An Environmental Wake-up Call Ask What do you think Carson was implying in her last sentence? (She was implying that pollution produced by humans was responsible for the deaths of the animals.) Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence As you read, record major events in the environmental movement in a flowchart like the one below. Rachel Carson publishes Silent Spring in 1962. Americans celebrate the first Earth Day in 1970. 쐍 Focus Point out the Section Focus Question, and write it on the board. Tell students to refer to this question as they read. (Answer appears with Section 4 Assessment answers.) 쐍 Preview Have students preview the Section Objectives and the list of Terms and People. 쐍 Using the Guided Reading strategy (TE, p. T20), have students read this section. As they read, have students record major events in the environmental movement. Reading and Note Taking Study Guide 698 An Era of Protest and Change Use the information below and the following resource to teach students the high-use word from this section. Teaching Resources, Vocabulary Builder, p. 11 High-Use Word Definition and Sample Sentence compel v. to force someone to do something The progressive movement encouraged Congress to compel food producers to make food safe. hsus_te_ch17_s04_s.fm Page 699 Friday, December 5, 2008 8:53 PM Environmental Activists Speak Out Teach In the 1920s, Progressives had worked to conserve public lands and parks. But no one thought to worry much about the ill effects of industrialization. In 1952, however, a blanket of deadly smog, caused by coal fires, engulfed the city of London, killing some 12,000 people. Ten years after the London smog, a book sparked the modern environmental movement. Silent Spring Sparks a Movement Coal smog is just one kind of toxic waste, or poisonous byproduct of human activity. Another is acid rain, or moisture in the air caused by the mixing of water with chemicals produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Toxic wastes are also produced when nuclear power is generated. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, scientists learned more about toxic wastes and other environmental threats. In 1962, biologist Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring described the deadly impact that pesticides were having on birds and other animals. Her book caused a sensation. Though the chemical industry fought back, the public was convinced by her argument. Carson did more than point to the dangers of chemicals and toxic waste. She also insisted that human activity drastically altered the environment and that humans had a responsibility to protect it. Her work eventually compelled Congress to restrict the use of the pesticide DDT. It also spurred widespread environmental activism among Americans. When a fire erupted on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1969, activists instantly spoke out. The fire occurred when a spark ignited floating oil and debris—byproducts of industrialization—on the river’s surface. Time magazine reported that the river “oozes, rather than flows.” Even more luridly, the magazine remarked that in the Cuyahoga, a person “does not drown but decays.” Environmental Activists Speak Out L3 Instruct Introduce: Key Term Ask stu- Vocabulary Builder compel –(kuhm PEHL) v. to force someone to do something Teach Explain to students that the Inaugurating Earth Day Events like the Cuyahoga fire seemed to confirm the dire predictions of Silent Spring. One response to growing environmental concerns was a nationwide protest called Earth Day. Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson, who played the leading role in organizing the protest, wanted “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue [environment] onto the national agenda.” On April 22, 1970, close to 20 million Americans took part in Earth Day events across the nation. The yearly event attracted the support of many of the same people who had advocated civil and women’s rights. It was also backed by a number of grassroots groups, including the Sierra Club, founded by John Muir in 1892, and the Wilderness Society, established in 1935. Historically, these groups had focused on conservation. With the rise of the environmental movement, however, they called for broader environmental protections. dents to find the key term toxic waste (in bold) in the text. Ask From where did toxic waste come? (human activity) Explain to students that toxic refers to something poisonous to humans. Ask What images come to mind when you hear the term toxic waste? (Students may mention air pollution or poisoned streams.) Earth Day, Then and Now Students march through the streets of St. Louis on the first Earth Day to protest pollution caused by cars (left); students on Earth Day in 2005 rush to break a world record for the most trees planted in an hour. “silent spring” in the title of Rachel Carson’s book refers to the death of animals in the natural environment, leading to the lack of animal sounds in the springtime. Ask Why did Rachel Carson write Silent Spring? (to alert people that pollution was damaging the environment and reducing the animal population) How was the new environmental movement different from the conservation movement? (The environmental movement focused on protection of the environment as a whole system, not just preserving certain areas of land.) How did President Nixon signal his support for environmental responsibility? (He supported the creation of the EPA and laws intended to protect the air and water.) Ask students to predict why some people might have opposed environmental legislation passed during the 1970s. Analyzing the Visuals Have stu- dents examine the photographs on these pages. Ask students to consider how Earth Day has changed since it began in 1970. L1 Special Needs Students L2 English Language Learners To help students integrate the content of this section, organize the class in groups of three, and assign each group one of the following topics: 1) protecting air and water, 2) protecting animals, 3) monitoring nuclear hazards. Ask each group to take notes from L2 Less Proficient Readers the text to collect information about their topics. Tell students to use their notes to write a brief paragraph about their topics. Have each group combine their paragraphs to develop reports about their topics. Have each group present its report to the class. Chapter 21 Section 4 699 hsus_te_ch17_s04_s.fm Page 700 Friday, December 5, 2008 8:53 PM Superfund Sites, 2008 For: Interactive map Web Code: nep-1741 Independent Practice Have students fill in additional boxes in their Recognize Sequence flowcharts to show events in the environmental movement that happened after Earth Day 1970. 130° W CANADA MT OR MN ID NV IL CO KS OH IN AZ OK NM NC N TX AK °N CANA MEXICO 140° W LA 0 HI 160° W GA DA 22° N °N AL 30° N 70° 60 20° N 158° W N SC AR MS SS IA 40° VA KY TN S CT DE MD WV MO W E NJ PA UT CA MA RI NY Love C a n al MI IA N RU As students complete their flowcharts, circulate to make sure that they record the entries in chronological order and that they understand the effect of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring. For a completed version of the flowchart, see Note Taking Transparencies, B-141. WI SD NE aci fi cea c n NH ME VT ND WY Monitor Progress EPA Superfund site WA Conic Projection 200 400 mi 0 200 400 km Map Skills In 1980, Congress FL Love Canal, New York: The first designated Superfund site in 1983, Love Canal was successfully cleaned up and removed from the highpriority list in 2004. 80° W 1. Identify In general, where are established Superfund, a program most Superfund sites located? Why financed by taxes on oil and certain do you think this is so? chemicals, to clean up sites that had 2. Draw Inferences Do sites in extreme environmental pollution. urban areas pose greater risks than Today, more than 1,500 sites remain on sites in rural areas? Explain. the high-priority list. 3. Synthesize Information Study the bar graph. What varied benefits does repurposing Superfund sites bring that would not be accomplished by just cleaning up the sites? A President Turns Environmentalist In 1969, President Nixon declared that the 1970s “must be the years when America pays its debts to the past by reclaiming the purity of its air, its water and our living environment.” Nixon had not come into office as an environmental activist. But the public’s increasing concern with protecting the environment convinced him to support environmental reforms. Under Nixon’s leadership, Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. This federal agency’s mission was to protect the “entire ecological chain.” In addition to cleaning up and protecting the environment, the EPA sought to limit or to eliminate pollutants that posed a risk to the public’s health, such as toxic substances that cause cancer. Nixon also signed a number of environmental laws. The Clean Air Act (1970) combated air pollution by, among other things, limiting the emissions from factories and automobiles. The Clean Water Act (1973) sought to limit the pollution of water by industry and agriculture. The Endangered Species Act (1973) promoted the protection of endangered plants and animals. President Gerald Ford continued in Nixon’s footsteps. In 1974, he created the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to make sure nuclear materials would be handled safely without harmful impacts on people or the environment. How did the modern environmental movement grow? Answers Map Skills 1. In the east, especially the Northeast; more industrial cities are located there. 2. Urban areas have larger populations, which mean more people who could be harmed by environmental pollution. 3. The new uses might be safer and more economically beneficial for the communities. Alarmed by Silent Spring, people organized gatherings such as Earth Day to draw attention to environmental issues. When people expressed this concern, the government responded by passing environmental protection laws. 700 An Era of Protest and Change L4 Advanced Readers L4 Gifted and Talented Students In the years since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established, opinions of its effectiveness have varied. Some people argue that it does not do enough to protect the environment and that it has often been weakened by politicians who are opposed to environmental protection laws. Others, especially corporate leaders, argue that it goes too far, harms businesses and acts on the basis of scientific ideas that are not sufficiently proven. Have students imagine that they are government analysts charged with deciding whether the EPA should continue to function. Have them research the history and activities of the EPA and make presentations to the class as though the class were a group of government officials. The presentation should explain whether the EPA is effective and necessary. If students recommend against keeping the EPA, they should propose and explain alternate solutions to environmental issues. hsus_te_ch17_s04_s.fm Page 701 Friday, December 5, 2008 8:53 PM Bowers Landfill, Before Cleanup: Bowers Landfill in Ohio was a municipal dump for garbage and hazardous chemical and industrial waste for several decades starting in the 1960s. Environmental Setbacks L3 Instruct Introduce Explain that for many Bowers Landfill, Today: Wetlands provide a safe habitat for a variety of plants and wildlife, and they also protect the surrounding ecosystem by preventing flooding. Superfund Cleanup, 2004 Superfund sites Bowers Landfill, 1991: After removing all of the contaminated soil, this site was completely restored for use as a wetland. 1,750 1,500 1,250 1,000 750 500 250 0 Environmental Setbacks As the 1970s drew to a close, a series of environmental crises made the headlines. They reinforced the public’s concern about the environment and produced calls for even more far-reaching actions. Yet, at the same time, a number of people began to wonder if the government had enacted too many regulations. Rather than calling for more federal action, they tried to limit the government’s role in environmental protection. Teach Ask How did toxic waste (900) Site cleanups completed people in the 1970s “Love Canal” became synonymous with toxic waste and “Three Mile Island” with the dangers of nuclear power plants. Ask Why did these places become so memorable to people? (Heightened public awareness of environmental issues and increasing media coverage, including presidential visits, kept these sites in the public mind.) (248) Sites restored for new uses One of Superfund’s goals is to restore sites in ways that provide economic or environmental benefits to communities. The EPA Investigates Love Canal In 1978, a resident of Love Canal, a community near Niagara Falls in upstate New York, hung a sign from his home that read: “Give me Liberty. I’ve Already Got Death.” This sign referred to the fact that residents of the community had exceptionally high rates of birth defects and cancer. Newspaper reporters and EPA investigators determined that these illnesses were caused by thousands of tons of toxic chemicals, which industries had been dumping in the ground for decades. One EPA administrator recalled the scene he witnessed following a heavy rain that sent toxic chemicals percolating up through the ground. “ I visited the canal area at that time. Corroding wastedisposal drums could be seen breaking up through the grounds of backyards. Trees and gardens were turning black and dying. . . . Puddles of noxious substances were pointed out to me by the residents. Some of these puddles were in their yards, some were in their basements, others yet were on the school grounds. Everywhere the air had a faint, choking smell. Children returned from play with burns on their hands and faces. —Eckhardt Beck, EPA Journal, 1979 ” The Love Canal contamination, along with other events involving hazardous waste, prompted Congress to establish Superfund (see feature at top) in 1980. that had been dumped at Love Canal harm the people who lived there? (The waste caused increased rates of birth defects and cancer, killed plants, injured children, and ruined property.) Display Color Transparency: Three Mile Island. Ask Why did the governor of Pennsylvania order that the Three Mile Island nuclear plant be shut down? (to prevent the malfunctioning reactor from releasing radioactive gas into the air as it melted down) Using the Numbered Heads strategy (TE, p. T23), ask students to list environmental concerns that arose in the 1970s. Students should mention threats from environmental pollution to people, the contamination of food and water, and the effects of air and water pollution on species and the ecosystem as a whole. To help them draw conclusions, ask How did environmental disasters highlight the dangers to the environment? (They showed that dangers existed, even in residential areas.) Color Transparencies, A-132 Quick Activity Ask students to complete Reading a Chart: Nuclear Energy. Then, have them use the chart to conduct a debate on whether the country should expand the use of nuclear energy. Teaching Resources, p. 23 China Syndrome Twelve days before the Three Mile Island meltdown, Columbia Studios released The China Syndrome, a fictional story of an accident at a nuclear power plant that was covered up by plant officials. The term “China Syndrome” referred to people’s fears that there could be a nuclear accident so bad it would melt a hole through Earth all the way to China. Few Americans had seriously considered such an idea. The accident, coupled with the movie, suddenly made the phrase “China Syndrome” a national phenomenon. Many scientists and engineers argued that the film contained flaws that misrepresented the nuclear power industry. Others pointed out that some elements in the film were based on real plant operating errors that had received no publicity. For example, in the film the nuclear accident almost happens because of a malfunctioning temperature gauge. A similar event really had happened at a nuclear plant near Chicago, Illinois. The China Syndrome became a symbol of the antinuclear movement and compelled many people to call for greater regulation of the nuclear power industry. Independent Practice Have students access the Geography Interactive map at Web Code nep1741. Have students complete the web activity and answer the map skills questions. Monitor Progress Circulate to make sure that students understand the significance of Superfund. Chapter 21 Section 4 701 hsus_te_ch17_s04_s.fm Page 702 Thursday, June 30, 2011 7:43 PM Interaction With the Environment Objectives • Understand how economic concerns can affect environmental policies. • Understand the concept of balancing economic, social, and political concerns. Background Knowledge L3 Have students recall why the national parks system was created. Ask students to consider why some people and corporations advocate using National Parks and Forests for industry. Instruct L3 Point out that the timeline shows events related to protection of the environment. Ask How does failing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol reflect American uncertainty about protecting the global environment? (It shows that not everyone agrees about how to prioritize the protection of the global environment.) Why do some people support oil exploration in the Arctic Refuge? (It would allow America to be less dependent on foreign oil reserves; supporters also say the drilling would be environmentally responsible.) What are the dangers of drilling in the Arctic Refuge? (damage to wildlife habitats; smaller oil reserves than anticipated) How can we balance economic development and environmental protection? The goals of economic growth and environmental protection are often in conflict. For example, power plants provide energy, but they pollute the air. Dams supply water, but they destroy natural habitats. Finding a balance between growth and conservation may involve trade-offs. Use the timeline below to explore this enduring issue. First national park is established. 1916 National Park Service Congress creates the National Park System. 1962 Silent Spring Rachel Carson’s book exposes dangers of pesticides. 1970 Clean Air Act Congress establishes air quality standards. 1973 Endangered Species Act Law offers protection for threatened species. 1997 Kyoto Protocol United States signs international agreement on CO2 emissions, but Congress fails to ratify it. “. . . There are good reasons . . . to per- “Drilling in the Arctic Refuge is not a mit ANWR drilling. . . . It could be done without wrecking the environment. . . . Only 2,000 acres of the 19 million-acre ANWR refuge would be subject to drilling. . . . Drilling could create 250,000 to 735,000 jobs nationwide. . . . [Drilling] in an environmentally sensitive fashion is important insurance against future energy shocks.” —Editorial, USA Today, 2005 path to energy independence or lower prices at the pump. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the Refuge has less than a single year’s supply of oil that would not reach the market for at least 10 years. Meanwhile, the harm to wildlife and to our greatest wildlife refuge would be irreparable.” —Defenders of Wildlife 1. Compare Why does the first source support drilling in the arctic refuge? Why does Defenders of Wildlife oppose it? Have students complete the Ameri- can Issues Journal Worksheet, Interaction with the Environment. Check students’ work to make sure that they grasp the aspects of the issue. Remind students to complete their The Search for Oil Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is a large nature preserve with an abundance of wildlife. It may also contain large deposits of crude oil. Some people want to drill for this oil, while others believe oil drilling would ruin the pristine wilderness. TRANSFER Activities Monitor Progress Teaching Resources, p. 15–18 A herd of caribou grazes on a plain near an oil-drilling facility in Alaska. 1872 Yellowstone 2. Analyze How might the first source have responded to the creation of the National Park Service in 1916? Explain. A view of Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon painted in 1872 3. Transfer Use the following Web site to see a video, try a WebQuest, and write in your journal. Web Code: neh-9002 American Issues Journal notes. Review their work for accuracy. Reading and Note Taking Study Guide Answers Transfer Activities 1. It would not be harmful to the environment and it would lead to a huge amount of new jobs. Those opposed say that it is harmful to the environment and in addition would not yield enough oil. 2. The first source would have been supportive. 3. For more information, have students access Web Code neh-9002. 702 An Era of Protest and Change The Kyoto Protocol In December 1997, representatives from more than 170 nations met in Kyoto, Japan, to develop a treaty that was intended to slow global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol specified a goal of slightly more than 5 percent emissions reduction by 2012. The treaty specified that the developed industrial nations that had historically emitted the most greenhouse gases would take the lead in reducing emissions. Less was expected of developing countries such as those in Africa and, notably, of India and China. Although President Clinton signed the treaty, Congress refused to ratify it. When the Kyoto Treaty Protocol went into force after its ratification by Russia in 2005, the United States still had not ratified it. Some U.S. leaders consider the provisions of the treaty to place an unfair economic burden on the United States and believe that the treaty allows China, which has a trade surplus with the United States, to avoid responsibility for the pollution it produces. hsus_te_ch17_s04_s.fm Page 703 Thursday, January 15, 2009 8:13 PM Meltdown at Three Mile Island Shortly after the investigation at Love Canal, an accident occurred in the nuclear energy industry. On March 28, 1979, the core of the nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, began to melt after the reactor malfunctioned. When the plant threatened to release radioactive gas, the governor declared a state of emergency and shut it down. To reassure the public that plant managers had contained the accident, President Jimmy Carter and his wife traveled to Three Mile Island and toured the reactor. Even though the incident was contained and there proved to be no health risks, it had profound effects on America’s energy policy. In the wake of the accident, Americans opposed nuclear energy, fearful of possible disasters. The government temporarily stopped building new nuclear power plants. Even though it later lifted the ban, no new American nuclear plants were ordered for more than a quarter of a century. In the 2000s, with energy shortages, many Americans began to call for building new nuclear plants. Questioning Environmental Regulation As more environmental regulations were passed, opposition to them grew. Conservatives complained that they stripped individuals of their property rights by restricting what they could or could not do with their land. Some argued that private property owners would do a better job of protecting the environment than the government because the owners had an interest in preserving the profitability of their land. Many people—and especially industry leaders—also worried that too much environmental regulation would hamper business and jobs by diverting funds to cleaning up the air and water. Therefore, as the 1970s came to a close, Americans remained divided about what role the government should play in regulating industry and protecting the environment. Why did some people oppose the environmental movement? SECTION 4 Assess and Reteach Assess Progress L3 쐍 Have students complete the Section Assessment. 쐍 Administer the Section Quiz. Teaching Resources, p. 27 쐍 To further assess student under- standing, use Progress Monitoring Transparencies, 137. Reteach If students need more instruction, have them read the section summary. Reading and Note Taking Study Guide L3 Adapted Reading and Note Taking Study Guide L1 L2 Spanish Reading and Note Taking Study Guide L2 Extend L4 See this chapter’s Professional Development pages for the Extend Online activity on the environment in the 1960s and 1970s. Progress Monitoring Online Assessment Comprehension 1. Terms and People For each item below, write a sentence explaining how it helped expand a right or provide a protection. • Rachel Carson • Earth Day • EPA • Clean Air Act • Clean Water Act • Endangered Species Act Answer For: Self-test with vocabulary practice Web Code: nea-1741 2. Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence Use your completed flowchart to answer the Section Focus Question: What forces gave rise to the environmental movement, and what impact did it have? Writing About History 3. Quick Write: Organize the Material You need to give a speech describing environmental problems in your region and how they could affect the local economy. Outline topics and arguments, remembering to begin with a strong argument or a personal story and to end with your most compelling argument. Section 4 Assessment 1. Sentences should reflect an understanding of the way that each person or term helped expand a right or provide a protection. 2. Research published in Silent Spring, accidents caused by environmental problems, and awareness events such as Earth Day gave rise to the environmental movement and led to widespread popular support for protecting the environment. Critical Thinking 4. Recognize Cause and Effect How did Rachel Carson’s concern about DDT spark the environmental movement? 5. Make Comparisons How did the goals and tactics of the environmental movement compare with those of the women’s movement? 6. Identify Assumptions What basic assumptions about the environment did opponents to environmental regulation have? 3. Students’ speeches should accurately reflect environmental and economic issues in the region or community. 4. Carson’s research showed a connection between chemicals and animal health, leading many people to act to protect the environment and human health. 5. Although the focus of their efforts was different, both the environmental and women’s movements acted to achieve their goals through political protests and legal reforms. Some people argued that the environmental movement interfered with private property rights, harmed businesses, and hampered job development. 6. They did not believe that the damage to the environment was significant. They assumed that the environment was meant to be used for financial gain. For additional assessment, have students access Progress Monitoring Online at Web Code nea-1741. Chapter 21 Section 4 703
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