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Rachel Carson's 1962 publication of "Silent Spring" is often cited as one of the most influential pieces of media in American environmental legislation. Carson, who spent the majority of her career working for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, was inspired to write "Silent Spring" due to a heightened level of environmental concern regarding modem agricultural practices. The issue at hand was America's increasing reliance on chemical pesticides, with Carson specifically targeting dichlorodiphenyl- dichloroethane (DDT) as among the worst defenders. These chemicals weaken natural defenses and wreak havoc upon wildlife populations. Carson's publication and its willingness to openly share these concerns were initially met with resistance by some scientists, chemical industry managers, and corporate lobbyists in agriculture. Despite this, the book was ultimately successful in shifting the perspective of the American public toward the growing environmental movement. This influence extended into the realm of public policy, as President Kennedy utilized Carson's publication to create a special pesticide study panel of the Science Advisory Committee. This panel would establish a trend of increased federal involvement in issues of environmental protection. Overall, the book details Carson's primary themes in a chapter-by-chapter analysis and highlights the significance of these claims towards American public perceptions and American environmental policy in the mid-late twentieth century.

Publication Date

4-17-2024

Disciplines

Higher Education | Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

An Analysis of Rachel Carson's

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