The Modern United States ~ Lesson 2 Movements of the 1970s
Ecology
In 1962, biologist Rachel Carson wrote a book called The Silent Spring. In the book, she warned Americans about the dangers of pollution. She spoke of DDT. This is a chemical used to kill insects. Scientists began finding proof that DDT was dangerous. DDT was found in penguins in the Antarctic where DDT had never been used.
President Nixon set up the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate what people were doing to the environment and to set up laws to slow down pollution. The EPA banned the use of DDT. It also set up high standards for clean air and water in the United States.
Robert W. Hines and Rachel Carson on the Atlantic coast
Nuclear Energy
In the 1970s, a movement began against the use of nuclear energy in power plants. People thought it was too dangerous.
Americans discovered that it was not cheaper to run power plants fueled by nuclear energy over fossil fuels. The waste from the nuclear plants is deadly to humans for thousands of years. Because of this, the waste has to be buried deep underground. A trace of this waste has turned up miles away from where it is buried.
Many people are also afraid that terrorists would steal the nuclear material from power plants to make nuclear bombs.
Arguments against the use of nuclear energy grew when there was an accident at the Three-Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania. Radiation leaked at the plant. Specialists at Three-Mile Island feared a melt-down, so people had to be evacuated from their homes. Even though a major disaster was avoided, Americans became frightened over the accident. Because of this, American companies began to look at alternate energy sources.
Rights for Women and Minority Groups
In 1963, Betty Friedan wrote Feminine Mystique. In her book, she said women should be allowed to move into the workforce just the way men do. In 1966, the National Organization for Women was founded. This group demanded equality in work and wages for women. Due to the increased awareness, the 27th Amendment was added to the Constitution. This was called the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which gave all people equal rights regardless of their sex.
The government also passed affirmative action laws. These laws are intended to prevent discrimination against employees on the basis of color, religion, sex, or national origin. Companies who do business with the United States government are legally required to have equal opportunity employment. Schools, hospitals, and police forces should hire people based on the populations they serve. The laws focus on putting women and minorities in better work positions.
In 1972, the Supreme Court ruled that children could be bussed to make sure schools were integrated. Because of this, children could be sent outside their neighborhoods to go to school.
Chicano Civil Rights Movement
Spanish-speaking people from Mexico were coming to the southern and western parts of the United States in the late 1960's. Many were finding jobs as migrant workers. In 1965, Cesar Chavez began to speak out as their leader. He formed a union called the United Farm Workers. Chavez led strikes and boycotts. He was able to get better pay and living conditions for the migrant workers.
The American Indian Movement
Native Americans began protesting for equal rights in the 1960's. A study was done in 1966 that showed how the Native Americans were suffering from hunger and disease. In 1973, a group called the American Indian Movement (AIM) became active. The group made Americans aware of the problems. They took over the settlement at Wounded Knee, South Dakota and demanded to be given land back that had been taken away. The takeover ended with shooting and arrests. AIM did not get the land back. Later courts did return land to some more peaceful Native American groups.
For nineteen months, from November 20, 1969, to June 11, 1971, Native Americans from all tribes moved to Alcatraz Island as a protest, until they were forced by the U.S. government to leave.
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