Impending Catastrophe? Environmental Concerns from the Past and Today
Making Connections
All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.Introduction
During the 1970s energy crisis in the U.S., gas prices continued to rise due to extreme shortages. As domestic production of oil decreased, America's reliance on imported oil increased. In 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) placed an embargo on oil coming into the United States. Across America, gas prices continued to rise, and cities began rationing gas, only allowing customers to pump limited amounts of gas on certain days of the week. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter gave a speech to the American public in which he proposed his plan to address Americans' growing concerns about the energy crisis.During this activity, you will work through each document according to the instructions and answer the questions as they appear.
Name:
Class:
Class:
Worksheet
Impending Catastrophe? Environmental Concerns from the Past and Today
Making Connections
Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Fill in any blanks in the sequence with your thoughts and write your conclusion response in the space provided.Many Americans were concerned about their future. Many wrote letters to the president to express their concerns. The next document is from a child named Grace. In this letter to the president, she expresses that she is worried about her future and specifically asks the president what he is going to do about the energy crisis. Please read Grace's letter and answer the questions that follow.
Letter from Grace Ledbetter to President Jimmy Carter Regarding Re-election
If you were President Jimmy Carter, how would you respond to Grace's letter? What would be your plan for addressing the energy crisis?
Enter your response
Please watch the video and critically examine the President's plan to address the energy crisis. After watching the video please answer the questions that follow.
The Energy Crisis - President Carter`s Plan
How does President Jimmy Carter plan to address the energy crisis? What are three action steps he makes during his speech?
Enter your response
Think back to how you decided to answer Grace's letter? How does President Carter's plan compare to your plan? Are there similarities? Are there differences?
Enter your response
In this video, President Carter refers to the 1970s energy crisis as an " impending catastrophe". The commentators in the video discuss President Carter's plan, and share their personal opinions. Do you agree, that the energy crisis was an "impending catastrophe?" Why/ Why Not? Be sure to include evidence from the documents to support your answer.
Enter your response
Can you name any environmental concerns or crises that exist today?
Enter your response
Naval Log books are rich with weather data. Ships collect data on their voyages, and researchers can use this weather data to look for changes in weather and climate conditions. Analyze the following logbook, and look for environmental issues that may be evident within the document.
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
What environment concerns did you observe within the document?
Enter your response
Taking into consideration all three documents, how have environmental concerns evolved overtime?
Enter your response
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Activity Element
Letter from Grace Ledbetter to President Jimmy Carter Regarding Re-election
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The Energy Crisis - President Carter`s Plan
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Conclusion
Impending Catastrophe? Environmental Concerns from the Past and Today
Making Connections
How does the 1970s energy crisis compare to the current climate crisis? How are the events similar? How are they different? Based on the evidence you observed during this activity, do you think that either event (or both) is an impending catastrophe? Why/why not? Justify your answer with evidence from the documents used in this activity.Your Response
Document
Letter from Grace Ledbetter to President Jimmy Carter Regarding Re-election
1/21/1979
Additional details from our exhibits and publications
In this January 21, 1977, letter, Grace Ledbetter congratulates Jimmy Carter on being elected President of the United States. She also states her concerns regarding pollution and the energy crisis of the 1970s.
This primary source comes from the Collection JC-WHCF: Carter White House Central Files.
National Archives Identifier: 593314
Full Citation: Letter from Grace Ledbetter to President Jimmy Carter Regarding Re-election; 1/21/1979; Collection JC-WHCF: Carter White House Central Files, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-grace-ledbetter-to-president-jimmy-carter-regarding-reelection, May 6, 2024]Letter from Grace Ledbetter to President Jimmy Carter Regarding Re-election
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Document
The Energy Crisis - President Carter's Plan
1977
PBS's Paul Duke interviews a group of experts and legislators about President Carter’s plan as presented in the President’s Address and the Presidential Press Conference of April 22. Guests include Dr. Glenn Seaborg, Nobel Laureate in chemistry and former head of the AED; David Schwartz, energy economist from Michigan State University; Hugh Green, former Associate Administrator, EPA; Representative Morris Udall of Arizona; and Connecticut Senator Lowell Weicker. Topics of discussion include the reality of the crisis, conservation, conversion to coal, and alternative energy sources.
You can also watch this video in our main National Archives online catalog.
You can also watch this video in our main National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Information Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 50458
Full Citation: The Energy Crisis - President Carter's Plan; 1977; Moving Images Relating to U.S. Domestic and International Activities , 1982 - 1999; Records of the U.S. Information Agency, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/the-energy-crisis-president-carters-plan, May 6, 2024]The Energy Crisis - President Carter's Plan
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Document
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919
These pages from the logbook (also called a captain's log or deck log) of the USCG Cutter Bear record the weather, positioning, and events for August 11-12, 1919. The ship encountered heavy polar ice pack near Icy Cape, Alaska – thought at the time to be the southernmost limit encountered at this time of year. The logbook records the following observations:
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Archives Identifier: 23696536
Full Citation: Bear, January 1918 - January 1920; 8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919; Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1819 - 1941; Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cutter-bear, May 6, 2024]Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Document
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919
These pages from the logbook (also called a captain's log or deck log) of the USCG Cutter Bear record the weather, positioning, and events for August 11-12, 1919. The ship encountered heavy polar ice pack near Icy Cape, Alaska – thought at the time to be the southernmost limit encountered at this time of year. The logbook records the following observations:
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Archives Identifier: 23696536
Full Citation: Bear, January 1918 - January 1920; 8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919; Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1819 - 1941; Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cutter-bear, May 6, 2024]Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Document
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919
These pages from the logbook (also called a captain's log or deck log) of the USCG Cutter Bear record the weather, positioning, and events for August 11-12, 1919. The ship encountered heavy polar ice pack near Icy Cape, Alaska – thought at the time to be the southernmost limit encountered at this time of year. The logbook records the following observations:
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Archives Identifier: 23696536
Full Citation: Bear, January 1918 - January 1920; 8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919; Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1819 - 1941; Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cutter-bear, May 6, 2024]Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Document
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919
These pages from the logbook (also called a captain's log or deck log) of the USCG Cutter Bear record the weather, positioning, and events for August 11-12, 1919. The ship encountered heavy polar ice pack near Icy Cape, Alaska – thought at the time to be the southernmost limit encountered at this time of year. The logbook records the following observations:
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Archives Identifier: 23696536
Full Citation: Bear, January 1918 - January 1920; 8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919; Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1819 - 1941; Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cutter-bear, May 6, 2024]Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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