Civil War era law gave citizens and future citizens the opportunity to claim 160 acres of land to help settle the West.

An early U.S. law that encouraged individuals and companies to explore, claim rights, and mine for valuable minerals (like gold and silver) on public lands, especially in the western United States.

Created national parks, monuments, and reservations to protect important natural and historic sites.

Which federal law contributed to the environmental changes displayed in this graph?

One of the United States' first and most influential modern environmental laws, it made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source (like a pipe, ditch, or factory) into navigable waters (such as rivers, lakes, or coastal areas) unless a permit was obtained.

"Save the Whales" - he first major U.S. law to protect marine mammals—like whales, dolphins, seals, and sea otters—from human activities, not just as individual species, but as key parts of entire ocean ecosystems.

Federal law that empowers the EPA to regulate and ban chemicals (like PCBs, asbestos, radon, and lead-based paint) in the United States to protect human health and the environment.

Passed in response to national attention resulting from the 1969 Cuyahoga River, Ohio fire.

Prohibits the harassment, hunting, capturing, collecting, or killing of whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea otters, ...

Main federal law that regulates greenhouse gases, emissions from vehicles, and sets standards for air quality.

Federal law that ensures the quality of drinking water in the United States by authorizing the EPA to set and enforce standards for public water systems.

U.S. law with the goal of preventing the extinction of at-risk species and promoting the recovery of their populations. It authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to protect animals, plants, and the ecosystems they depend on.

An international agreement of 180+ countries that helps prevent extinction and poaching by regulating trade in wild plants and animals. It makes it illegal to import, export, or sell endangered or threatened species without special permits.

U.S. law that focuses on stopping pollution before it starts. it encourages industries, businesses, and government agencies to reduce the amount of all waste and pollutants they produce at the source, conserve resources like water and energy, and promote recycling and reuse whenever possible.

A U.S. law that encourages farmers to manage their private land in ways that protect soil, water, and wildlife while still producing food. The focus is on both agriculture and conservation.

A U.S. law that requires the USDA to regularly assess the condition of the nation’s soil and water and create long-term plans to protect these resources.

U.S. law that requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set strict “safe” levels for pesticide residues on foods to better protect human health, especially for children and infants, who are more sensitive to chemicals.

A U.S. law that gives the EPA the power and money to clean up dangerous waste sites, spills, and accidents, and to make the companies that caused the pollution pay for it.