Environmental History: Learning from the Past

Environmental History of the US 4 Eras The environmental history of the US can be divided into 4 eras: The environmental history of the US can be divided into 4 eras: Tribal Tribal Frontier Frontier Early conservation Early conservation Environmental Environmental

Environmental History of the US Tribal Era Tribal Era- Tribal Era- Native Americans Native Americans 10,000 years before European settlement 10,000 years before European settlement Slash and burn/shifting cultivation Slash and burn/shifting cultivation Small population Small population Low environmental impact Low environmental impact

Environmental History of the US Frontier Era Frontier Era- Frontier Era- Early 1600’s—European settlement Early 1600’s—European settlement Frontier environmental worldview—vast and inexhaustible resources Frontier environmental worldview—vast and inexhaustible resources Tribes and land conquered Tribes and land conquered Public  private land Public  private land Government declared frontier officially closed in 1890 Government declared frontier officially closed in 1890

Environmental History of the US Early Conservation Era Early Conservation Era- Early Conservation Era- Alarm at resource depletion Alarm at resource depletion Urged part of unspoiled wilderness be protected as legacy to future generations Urged part of unspoiled wilderness be protected as legacy to future generations Thoreau (Life in the Woods) and other writers addressed these issues but not taken seriously Thoreau (Life in the Woods) and other writers addressed these issues but not taken seriously Active role of government increases Active role of government increases Environmental change within democracies involves voicing opinions through elected officials, legislation, budgeting, and lobbying by special interest groups.

Environmental History of the US Early Conservation Era Actions ↑ role of government Actions ↑ role of government and private citizens in and private citizens in resource conservation resource conservation 1891-Forest Reserve Act established federal government as responsible for protecting public lands 1891-Forest Reserve Act established federal government as responsible for protecting public lands 1892-John Muir founded Sierra Club and led preservationist movement 1892-John Muir founded Sierra Club and led preservationist movement 1890-Yosemite National Park 1890-Yosemite National Park

Environmental History of the US Early Conservation Era cont…. Theodore Roosevelt Established wildlife reserves and tripled size of national reserve President given power to designate public land as federal wildlife reserves 1905-US Forest Service 1906-Antiquities Act President can protect areas on federal lands as national monuments (Grand Canyon) “Golden Age of Conservation”

Environmental History of the US Early Conservation Era cont… National Park Service Act creates National Park System 1916-National Park Service Act creates National Park System

Environmental History of the US Early Conservation Era Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) 1933-Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) 1933-Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) 2 million people employed 2 million people employed Restore degraded environment, built dams, etc. Restore degraded environment, built dams, etc. 1940’s and 50’s had little change 1940’s and 50’s had little change

Environmental History of the US Environmental Era 1960’s Environmental Era- Environmental Era- Citizens began modern environmental movement Citizens began modern environmental movement 1962-Rachel Carson published Silent Spring about pesticide effects 1962-Rachel Carson published Silent Spring about pesticide effects 1963-Clean Air Act 1963-Clean Air Act 1964 Wilderness Act protecting tracts of land in the Wilderness System 1964 Wilderness Act protecting tracts of land in the Wilderness System 1968-Garrett Hardin 1968-Garrett Hardin 1969-Spaceship Earth worldview 1969-Spaceship Earth worldview

Environmental History of the US Environmental Era 1970’s Environmental decade Environmental decade st Earth Day st Earth Day Nixon Nixon 1970-EPA established 1970-EPA established 1973-Endagered Species Act 1973-Endagered Species Act 1978-Bureau of Land Management started to manage public lands through Federal Land Policy and Management Act 1978-Bureau of Land Management started to manage public lands through Federal Land Policy and Management Act

Environmental History of the US Environmental Era 1970’s cont….. Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter 1977-Department of Energy (DOE) 1977-Department of Energy (DOE) to reduce dependence on foreign oil to reduce dependence on foreign oil 1977-Clean Water Act 1977-Clean Water Act 1980-Superfund created in response to Love Canal to clean up abandoned hazardous waste 1980-Superfund created in response to Love Canal to clean up abandoned hazardous waste Tripled land in National Wilderness system and doubled land in the National Park System Tripled land in National Wilderness system and doubled land in the National Park System

Environmental History of the US Environmental Era 1980’s Anti-environmental movement formed Anti-environmental movement formed to weaken laws of 60’s and 70’s to weaken laws of 60’s and 70’s Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Increased private energy, mineral Increased private energy, mineral development and timber cutting development and timber cutting Funding for environmental resources cut Funding for environmental resources cut

Environmental History of the US Environmental Era cont…. George Bush Sr. George Bush Sr. Weakened protections on almost as much public lands as Teddy Roosevelt protected Weakened protections on almost as much public lands as Teddy Roosevelt protected Increase fossil fuel use Increase fossil fuel use Relaxation on air and water quality standards Relaxation on air and water quality standards 1992 attended the United Nations Conference, Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to discuss environmental issues 1992 attended the United Nations Conference, Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to discuss environmental issues

Environmental History of the US Environmental Era Clinton protected more public lands as national monuments than any other Pres. Clinton protected more public lands as national monuments than any other Pres Kyoto Japan 161 nations 1997-Kyoto Japan 161 nations met to negotiate a treaty to decrease emissions and slow climate change met to negotiate a treaty to decrease emissions and slow climate change

Environmental History of the US Environmental Era George Bush Jr George Bush Jr Just like dad Just like dad Withdrew US totally from Kyoto treaty Withdrew US totally from Kyoto treaty We’ll see what’s next! We’ll see what’s next! Frontline’s Hot Politics Frontline’s Hot PoliticsHot PoliticsHot Politics