Choking Smog. A River on Fire. How Pollution Set the Stage for the First Earth Day | Retro Report

Learn about the environmental crises that prompted the first Earth Day and the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency, and how environmentalism has since become a political point of contention. In the mid 20th century, smog choked cities, factories spewed industrial waste and a river in Ohio caught fire. By the late 1960s, a series of environmental crises pushed environmental damage into the national spotlight. Events like these led to the creation of the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, when an estimated 20 million Americans took part in demonstrations, teach-ins, and community cleanup efforts. Public pressure eventually led to landmark legislation, including the Clean Air Act, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.