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Long-Term Impact
Lear, Linda, The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson
A political cartoon showing how Rachel Carson stopped the chemical companies with the power of words.
Personal Attacks on Rachel Carson | Environment & Society Portal
On April 14th, 1964, Rachel Carson died at 56.
“But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.”
~Rachel Carson
Lear, Linda. “Rachel Carson's Biography.”
It soon became common knowledge for most that chemicals are dangerous. This change in awareness is the “before Rachel” and “after Rachel” in the way we talk about the environment. Now, the environment is considered an important subject. The government became a regulating authority for the environment. Many new regulations were passed regarding the safety testing of new products. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was founded in Carson’s honor. Humanity is now considered a part of nature, and not apart from nature.
"Thus, the chemical war is never won, and all life is caught in its violent crossfire."
~ Rachel Carson
“Rachel Carson and the Legacy of Silent Spring.” The Guardian
The New York Times
However, this fight is far from over. Many harmful pesticides are still in use. These chemicals are hurting the environment while also saving lives from multiple insect-borne diseases. Some people are still putting faith in the power of science to protect humanity, even with the extreme dangers associated with new chemicals. Rachel Carson broke barriers with her writing, but her story was only the beginning of a fight that would last for generations.