Environmental History of the Environmental History of the United StatesUnited States

U.S. Environmental HistoryU.S. Environmental History

The environmental history of the United States The environmental history of the United States can be divided into 4 eras:can be divided into 4 eras: TribalTribal FrontierFrontier ConservationConservation EnvironmentalEnvironmental

What Happened During The Tribal What Happened During The Tribal Era?Era?

North America was occupied by 5-10 million North America was occupied by 5-10 million tribal people for 10,000 years before settlers tribal people for 10,000 years before settlers began arriving in the early 1600s.began arriving in the early 1600s.

These indigenous people practiced hunting and These indigenous people practiced hunting and gathering, burned and cleared fields, and gathering, burned and cleared fields, and planted crops.planted crops.

Because of their small populations and simple Because of their small populations and simple technologies, they had a fairly low technologies, they had a fairly low environmental impact.environmental impact.

Tribal Era cont.Tribal Era cont.

Most Native American cultures had a deep Most Native American cultures had a deep respect for the land and its animals and did not respect for the land and its animals and did not believe in land ownership.believe in land ownership.

What Happened During the Frontier What Happened During the Frontier Era (1607-1890)?Era (1607-1890)?

The frontier era began in the early 1600s when The frontier era began in the early 1600s when European colonists began settling North America.European colonists began settling North America.

Early colonists developed a Early colonists developed a frontier environmental frontier environmental worldview.worldview.

They view most of the continent as wilderness with They view most of the continent as wilderness with vast resources.vast resources.

Forests were cleared for timber and cropland, but also Forests were cleared for timber and cropland, but also because they were hostile and full of savages and because they were hostile and full of savages and wild beastswild beasts

Frontier Era cont.Frontier Era cont.

Settling of the continent and use of its resources was Settling of the continent and use of its resources was accelerated by the transfer of vast tracts of public accelerated by the transfer of vast tracts of public land to private interests between 1850 and 1900.land to private interests between 1850 and 1900.

In 1850, the U.S. government owned about 80% of In 1850, the U.S. government owned about 80% of the total land area of the territorial United States.the total land area of the territorial United States.

Tribal cultures accounted for 4% of the land, mostly Tribal cultures accounted for 4% of the land, mostly in reservations designated by the governmentin reservations designated by the government

Frontier Era cont.Frontier Era cont.

The Homestead Act of 1862: settlers were The Homestead Act of 1862: settlers were given 160 acres in the Great Plains free of given 160 acres in the Great Plains free of charge.charge.

By 1900, more than half of the country’s By 1900, more than half of the country’s public land was given away or sold cheaply to public land was given away or sold cheaply to railroad, timber, and mining companies, land railroad, timber, and mining companies, land developers, states, schools, universities, and developers, states, schools, universities, and homesteaders.homesteaders.

A homesteader family stands near their home in Florissant, Colorado.

Frontier Era cont.Frontier Era cont.

The frontier environmental view prevailed The frontier environmental view prevailed until the government declared the frontier until the government declared the frontier closed in 1890.closed in 1890.

Does the frontier environmental view remain a Does the frontier environmental view remain a part of American culture today?part of American culture today?

By 1890, settlements had spread throughout the Great Plains and Far West, though large areas were thinly populated. That year, the government reported that no frontiers were left.

The Early Conservation Era The Early Conservation Era (1832-1960)(1832-1960)

Who were some early conservationists (1832-Who were some early conservationists (1832-70)?70)? During this time, some people became alarmed at During this time, some people became alarmed at

the scope of resource depletion and degradation in the scope of resource depletion and degradation in the United Statesthe United States

Two early conservationists Henry David Thoreau Two early conservationists Henry David Thoreau and George Perkins Marsh.and George Perkins Marsh.

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

Thoreau became alarmed at the loss of Thoreau became alarmed at the loss of numerous wildlife species in Massachusetts.numerous wildlife species in Massachusetts.

To gain a better understanding of nature, he To gain a better understanding of nature, he built a cabin on Walden Pond and lived there built a cabin on Walden Pond and lived there for 2 years by himself.for 2 years by himself.

While there, he wrote While there, he wrote Life in the Woods, Life in the Woods, and and environmental classic.environmental classic.

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

George Perkins MarshGeorge Perkins Marsh

A scientist and member A scientist and member of congress from of congress from Vermont, published Vermont, published Man and NatureMan and Nature, which , which helped legislators and helped legislators and citizens see the need for citizens see the need for resource conservation.resource conservation.

What Happened Between What Happened Between 1870-1930?1870-1930?

The Forest Preserve Act of 1891:The Forest Preserve Act of 1891: established established the responsibility of the federal government the responsibility of the federal government for protecting public lands from resource for protecting public lands from resource exploitation. exploitation.

1870-19301870-1930

In 1892, nature preservationist and activist John Muir In 1892, nature preservationist and activist John Muir founded the Sierra Club.founded the Sierra Club.

Muir advocated for the protection of large areas Muir advocated for the protection of large areas wilderness on public lands from human exploitation, wilderness on public lands from human exploitation, except for low-impact recreational activities such as except for low-impact recreational activities such as camping and hiking.camping and hiking.

Muir also lobbied for a national park system on Muir also lobbied for a national park system on public land, an idea that became law in 1916 (2 years public land, an idea that became law in 1916 (2 years after his death).after his death).

Adirondack ParkAdirondack Park

1885 - The legislature adopted legislation 1885 - The legislature adopted legislation establishing the Forest Preserve (FP) stating establishing the Forest Preserve (FP) stating that the land that the land “shall be forever kept as wild “shall be forever kept as wild forest lands.”forest lands.”

This was the start of protecting the Adirondack This was the start of protecting the Adirondack wilderness. wilderness.

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt’s presidency (1901-09) became Roosevelt’s presidency (1901-09) became known as the known as the Golden Age of Conservation.Golden Age of Conservation.

Major contributions:Major contributions: Designating public land as wildlife refugesDesignating public land as wildlife refuges Established 1Established 1stst federal wildlife refuge on Pelican federal wildlife refuge on Pelican

Island n FloridaIsland n Florida Designated Grand Canyon as one of the 1Designated Grand Canyon as one of the 1stst

national parksnational parks Tripled the size of national forest preservesTripled the size of national forest preserves

Men and Nature must work hand in hand. The throwing Men and Nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the resources of Nature throws out of out of balance of the resources of Nature throws out of balance also the lives of men.balance also the lives of men.~ Franklin D. Roosevelt~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir on Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, California

Important Congressional Acts of the Important Congressional Acts of the Early 1900sEarly 1900s

1905- Congress created U.S. Forest Service1905- Congress created U.S. Forest Service Led Gifford Pinchot Led Gifford Pinchot Pinchot pioneered scientific management of forest Pinchot pioneered scientific management of forest

resources on public landsresources on public lands Sustainable yield-Sustainable yield- cutting trees no faster than they can cutting trees no faster than they can

regenerateregenerate Multiple use-Multiple use- using lands for a variety of purposes, using lands for a variety of purposes,

including resource extraction, recreation, and wildlife including resource extraction, recreation, and wildlife protectionprotection

Important Congressional Acts of the Important Congressional Acts of the Early 1900sEarly 1900s

1906- Congress passed Antiquities Act which 1906- Congress passed Antiquities Act which allowed a president to protect areas of allowed a president to protect areas of scientific or historical interestscientific or historical interest

1916- Congress passed the National Park 1916- Congress passed the National Park Service ActService Act Declared parks were to be maintained in to leave Declared parks were to be maintained in to leave

them unimpaired for future generationsthem unimpaired for future generations Established the National Park Service Established the National Park Service

Different Views on Different Views on Environmentalism Environmentalism

Wise-use or Conservationist (Roosevelt and Wise-use or Conservationist (Roosevelt and Pinchot)- Believed all public lands should be Pinchot)- Believed all public lands should be managed wisely and scientifically to provide managed wisely and scientifically to provide needed resources.needed resources.

Preservationists (Muir)- wanted wilderness areas Preservationists (Muir)- wanted wilderness areas on public lands to be left untouched.on public lands to be left untouched.

What Happened Between 1930 and What Happened Between 1930 and 1960?1960?

Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)- planted trees, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)- planted trees,

developed and maintained parks and recreation developed and maintained parks and recreation areas, flood control, protect wildlifeareas, flood control, protect wildlife

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)- replant forestsTennessee Valley Authority (TVA)- replant forests Soil Conservation Act of 1935- established to fix Soil Conservation Act of 1935- established to fix

erosion problems from the dust bowl erosion problems from the dust bowl

The Environmental Era The Environmental Era (1960-2002)(1960-2002)

1962- Rachel Carson wrote 1962- Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring, Silent Spring, which documented pollution of air, water, and which documented pollution of air, water, and wildlife from pesticides such as DDT.wildlife from pesticides such as DDT.

Carson’s book was viewed as the beginning of Carson’s book was viewed as the beginning of the modern environmental movementthe modern environmental movement Many citizens demanded that politicians enact Many citizens demanded that politicians enact

laws:laws: 1.) curtailed pollution, 1.) curtailed pollution, 2.) cleaned up polluted environments2.) cleaned up polluted environments 3.) protect wilderness from environmental degradation3.) protect wilderness from environmental degradation

Wilderness ActWilderness Act

In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act that authorized the government to protect that authorized the government to protect undeveloped tracts of public land as part of the undeveloped tracts of public land as part of the National Wilderness System.National Wilderness System.

What Happened in the 1970s?What Happened in the 1970s?

First annual Earth Day was held April 20, First annual Earth Day was held April 20, 1970.1970.

President Nixon established the President Nixon established the Environmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) in (EPA) in 1970.1970.

Nixon also supported passage of the Nixon also supported passage of the Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act of 1973. of 1973.

President Jimmy CarterPresident Jimmy Carter(1977-1981)(1977-1981)

Helped create a Superfund as part of the Helped create a Superfund as part of the Comprehensive Environment Response, Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to clean up to clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites, including the Love abandoned hazardous waste sites, including the Love Canal near Niagara Falls, NY.Canal near Niagara Falls, NY.

Used Antiquities Act of 1906 to triple the amount of Used Antiquities Act of 1906 to triple the amount of land in the National Wilderness System and double land in the National Wilderness System and double the area in the National Park System.the area in the National Park System.

What Did Ronald Reagan Do?What Did Ronald Reagan Do?

Appointed individuals who opposed most existing Appointed individuals who opposed most existing environmental and public land use laws and policies.environmental and public land use laws and policies.

Increased private energy and mineral development Increased private energy and mineral development and timber cutting on public lands.and timber cutting on public lands.

Cut federal funding for research on energy Cut federal funding for research on energy conservation and renewable energy resources and conservation and renewable energy resources and eliminated tax incentives for solar energy use.eliminated tax incentives for solar energy use.

Lowered automobile gas mileage standards and Lowered automobile gas mileage standards and relaxed federal air and water quality pollution relaxed federal air and water quality pollution standards.standards.

"A tree's a tree.  How many more do you "A tree's a tree.  How many more do you need to look at?"need to look at?"

--Ronald Reagan--Ronald Reagan

George Bush (1989)George Bush (1989)

Promised to be “the environmental president”Promised to be “the environmental president” However, he supported the exploitation of However, he supported the exploitation of

valuable resources on public landsvaluable resources on public lands Allowed some environmental laws to be Allowed some environmental laws to be

undercut by the powerful influence of undercut by the powerful influence of industry, mining, ranching, and real estate industry, mining, ranching, and real estate development officials development officials

What Happened From 1990 to 2002?What Happened From 1990 to 2002?

In 1993, Bill Clinton became presidentIn 1993, Bill Clinton became president Consulted with environmentalists about Consulted with environmentalists about

environmental policyenvironmental policy Vetoed most anti-environmental billsVetoed most anti-environmental bills Announced regulations requiring SUVs to meet Announced regulations requiring SUVs to meet

same air pollution standards as carssame air pollution standards as cars Made forest health the primary priority in Made forest health the primary priority in

managing national forestsmanaging national forests Declared many roadless areas in national forests Declared many roadless areas in national forests

off limits to roads and loggingoff limits to roads and logging

President George W. Bush (2001-)President George W. Bush (2001-)

Did not consult with environmental groups Did not consult with environmental groups and leaders in developing his policiesand leaders in developing his policies

Increased private energy and mineral Increased private energy and mineral development and timber cutting on public development and timber cutting on public landslands

Cut EPA fundingCut EPA funding Opposed U.S. participation in the international Opposed U.S. participation in the international

Kyoto treaty to reduce carbon dioxide Kyoto treaty to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that promote global warming emissions that promote global warming

5 Most Important Environmental 5 Most Important Environmental Issues of the 21Issues of the 21stst Century Century

1.1. Threat to climate change from global Threat to climate change from global warmingwarming

2.2. Growing water shortagesGrowing water shortages

3.3. Continuing population growthContinuing population growth

4.4. Continuing biodiversity lossContinuing biodiversity loss

5.5. Continuing povertyContinuing poverty