Exploring the intersection of labor and environmental history, this book reveals how work shapes Americans' changing relationship with nature. It uncovers the surprising links between the struggle for workers' rights and the emergence of the modern environmental movement, highlighting how these two social movements have influenced each other over time.
A History of Opposition to Surface Coal Mining in Appalachia
Focusing on the environmental and economic repercussions of surface coal mining in Appalachia, the book explores the grassroots movement against this industry that emerged post-World War II. Chad Montrie details the evolution of popular resistance, highlighting acts of civil disobedience and sabotage as communities sought to protect their land and livelihoods. By examining the struggle across the entire Appalachian region, from Pennsylvania to Alabama, it provides a thorough and comparative account of the fight to preserve both the environment and the people affected by mining practices.
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 consequent growth of cities. As these changes transformed peoples’ lives, ordinary Americans came to recognize the connections between economic exploitation, social inequality, and environmental problems. In turn, as the modern age dawned, they relied on labor unions, sportsmen’s clubs, racial and ethnic organizations, and community groups to respond 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.