This document outlines major events and milestones in the American environmental movement from 1845 to 2006. Some key events include:
- 1845: Henry Thoreau publishes Walden, promoting wilderness protection.
- 1891: Yellowstone becomes the first national park, while the Forest Reserve Act allows the president to reserve forest lands.
- 1962: Rachel Carson's Silent Spring is published, launching the modern environmental movement by exposing the dangers of pesticides.
- 1970: The first Earth Day is celebrated, increasing public awareness of environmental issues.
- 1989: The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska highlights the need for oil pollution regulation and response plans.
- 2006: Al
2. 1845: Naturalist Henry Thoreau spends two years in Walden woods observing and recording rainfall, temperature and plant growth. Thoreau published book and promoted the protection of wilderness.
3. 1891: Congress establishes Yellowstone as first national park; simultaneously passes bill that legalizes mining in public areas for a fee.
4. 1889: John Muir (with the help of magazine editor Robert Johnson) introduced bill to Congress to make Yosemite a national park.
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6. 1892: The Sierra Club is created and co founded by John Muir, who becomes its first president. It is currently the largest grassroots environmental organization of the U.S.
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13. 1972: DDT, the toxic synthetic pesticide, becomes banned in the U.S.
