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President Richard Nixon Elected President
Richard Nixon was president on the first Earth Day, but before that he had close to no care on the environment. When these issues started arising, he thought that people would like him more as a president if he was interested and had concern for the problems. In response, he created the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970. -
Gaylord Nelson Gets Idea for First Earth Day
While on an airplane, Wisconsin Sanator Gaylord Nelson read an article in the newspaper about "teach-ins" on the Vietnam War. Teach-ins are formal versions of protests, typically at colleges or universities, where students are lectured about the topic. Nelson thought there should be a nationwide teach-in all about the environment. So, Earth Day was created a year later. -
Cuyahoga River Fire
When the Cuyahoga River caught on fire in 1969 from chemicals in the water, it sparked much debate over whether something had to be done. This was part of the reason that Earth Day took place, essentially. -
The First Earth Day
The first Earth Day was founded by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson with his team consisting of student Denis Hayes and Republican Senator Paul McCloskey. There were many actions around the country such as protests and rallies, and many think that this is what started the environmental movement. -
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act is one of the laws that was created in favor of the environment in response to the first Earth Day. Although there were many laws for the environment, the Clean Air Act is one of the three most well-known ones. -
EPA Established
The Environmental Protection Agency (or EPA) is a government organization that protects the environment by raising awareness and fighting for laws to be created. It was created by president Richard Nixon after the first Earth Day. -
Clean Water Act
Another one of the laws that was created for the environment, the Clean Water Act protected polluted waters everywhere. It was second of the three main laws for the environment. -
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act was created in response to the first Earth Day, speaking out against protecting endangered species in the wildlife. Though there were many more laws after Earth Day, this was one of the three most well-known ones. -
Safe Drinking Water Act
An act where Congress permitted the EPA to make sure public drinking water was safe and harmless. Though it was not as well known as the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts, it was very important for the public. -
The Bubble Policy
The Bubble Policy allows companies to find their own methods to clean up their emissions, as long as they meet the EPA's regulations of the amount of pollution from business. -
Earth Day 1990
Earth Day 1990 was an international Earth Day, where national coordinator Denis Hayes was asked to create another event. 141 different countries participated in different activities, and the world realized that something had to be done for our environment. -
Gaylord Nelson receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 1995, Gaylord Nelson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award the president gives to any citizen who has performed a great act for society. -
Gaylord Nelson Dies
The founder of the first Earth Day, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson died at 89 on July 3, 2004. Besides creating the first Earth Day, he was a great man and did many things to raise awareness about the environment in many people's lives around the country.
