Chad Montrie 
The Myth of Silent Spring 
Rethinking the Origins of American Environmentalism

Since its publication in 1962, Rachel Carson’s book
Silent Spring has often been celebrated as the catalyst that sparked an American environmental movement. Yet environmental consciousness and environmental protest in some regions of the United States date back to the nineteenth century, with the advent of industrial manufacturing and the consequent growth of cities. As these changes transformed people’s lives, ordinary Americans came to recognize the connections between economic exploitation, social inequality, and environmental problems. As the modern age dawned, they turned to labor unions, sportsmen’s clubs, racial and ethnic organizations, and community groups to respond to such threats accordingly.
The Myth of Silent Spring tells this story. By challenging the canonical “songbirds and suburbs” interpretation associated with Carson and her work, the book gives readers a more accurate sense of the past and better prepares them for thinking and acting in the present.

Table of Content

Acknowledgments

Introduction: “The Fight for a Balanced Environment and the Fight for Social Justice and Dignity Are Not Unrelated Struggles”


1. “I Think Less of the Factory Than of My Native Dell”


2. “Why Don’t They Dump the Garbage on the Bully-Vards?”


3. “Massive Mobilization for a Great Citizen Crusade”


Conclusion: “They Keep Threatening Us with the Loss of Our Jobs”


Notes

Further Reading

Index

About the author

Chad Montrie is Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is the author of several books, including A People’s History of Environmentalism in the United States.