The 1950s were an Age of Miracles. For the first time in human history, anything seemed possible, even a trip to the moon. The United States had won World War II and now it was out to win the war against nature. However, in the 1960s, more and more Americans were seeing the wisdom of the John Muir's statement: "When we try to pick anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." (John Muir p.110). Inspired by the work of John Muir, Rachel Carson and others and the urgency created by a number of environmental disasters, an ecological movement was born. This movement led to the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.
"We have seen the enemy, and he is us." --Pogo. When it comes to the environment, Pogo spoke truth.
First along the River: a brief history of the U.S. environmental movement by 
The Grapes of Wrath by 
The Everglades: river of grass by 
1994 image of the Blue Marble, Earth
Source: NASA image
This image depicts a full view of the Earth, taken by the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES-8). A view of the Planet Earth from space changed humanity's perspective. There were no artificial boundaries but one whole earth. "Humanity's habitat looked tiny, fragile and rare and humanity must tend it." (The Long Sixties, p. 131) This vision from space created an urgency for many who saw the human race as stewards of the planet and not its owners.
THE CUYAHOGA RIVER FIRE, PART 1: DON'T FALL IN THE RIVER
Tim Donovan describes the sorry state of the Cuyohoga River prior to cleanup efforts and regulatory protectors.
Source: Cleveland State University Center for Public History & Digital Humanities
"Inspired by the 1969 river fire, Congress was determined to resolve the issue of land pollution, not just in Cleveland, but throughout the United States. The legislature passed the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) which was signed into law on January 1, 1970. This act helped establish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which would be given the duties to manage environmental risks and regulate various sanitary-specific policies. One of the first legislations that the EPA put-forth was the Clean Water Act (1972), which mandated that all rivers throughout the United States be hygienic enough to safely allow mass amounts of swimmers and fish within the water by 1983." --Ohio History Central
The event inspired Randy Newman to write the song, "Burn On."
Source: allmusic.com
Songs found on Spotify.
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's new world by 
The Natural History Essays by 
The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the crusade for America by 
Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the land of America by 
Juniper, T. (2019). The ecology book. NY, NY: DK Publishing.
Kline, B. (2011). First Along the River A Brief History of the U. S. Environmental Movement. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
McCleary, J. B., & McCleary, J. J. (n.d.). The hippie dictionary: A cultural encyclopedia (and phraseicon) of the 1960s and 1970s. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.
Muir, J. (1988). My First Summer in the Sierra. San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club Books.
Strain, C. B. (2016). Long Sixties: America, 1954-1974. Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Urdang, L. (2001). The Timetables of American History: History and Politics, the Arts, Science and Technology, and More in America and Elsewhere. Simon & Schuster.
