The creation of the Environmental Protection Agency reflected a broader trend in the 1970s of rising environmentalism. Which option best describes this trend?

• A. Rise in environmentalism
• B. Increase in deregulation
• C. Decline in consumer protections
• D. Growth of urban sprawl

Answer: (A)

The event reflects a surge in environmental awareness and policy action in the 1970s. Public concern about pollution and conservation grew, leading to landmark laws and new agencies to regulate environmental issues. The creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 embodies this shift toward stronger environmental protection and government response to ecological concerns, a hallmark of the era’s rising environmentalism.

That broader trend isn’t about deregulation, which would push in the opposite direction, nor about reducing consumer protections or focusing on urban sprawl. The move to establish the EPA signals the increasing priority given to protecting air, water, and natural resources.