09 - Pennsylvania, Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring is noted as the start of Modern Environmentalism. Pennsylvania was the seventh state to ratify on June 24, 1919. In 1962, Rachel Carson released Silent Spring with reviews by government leaders stressing this is “…the most important chronicle of this century for the human race.” (SCJ William O. Douglas) Today it is noted as the start of modern environmentalism. Mrs. Carson’s mother, a life tutor, encouraged her to observe and learn from nature. She studied marine biology, and was the first scientist of the U.S. Biological Survey (now the US Fish & Wildlife Service). She wrote three books of the sea, sharing the scientific lessons in creative and eloquent writing. Silent Spring was her final book. The acclaim and response started the environmental movement. The research started later in her career as friends drew her to the effects of airplanes dropping chemicals, specifically DDT used to control mosquitoes and insects, on fields. She in...