Environmental History: An Overview

1. Environmental History: An Overview G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment MATES Chapter 2 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

2. Key Concepts • Four Major “Revolutions”in Human Culture U.S. Environmental History • Tribal and Frontier Era • Early Conservation Era • The Environmental Era • Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic SPRAGUE ENV MATES

3. Cultural Changes and the Environment: Hunter-Gatherer Culture • Hunter-gatherers • LEAVERS VS. TAKERS • Homo sapiens 60,000 years- 12,000 years ago • Nomadic: seasonal movement • Limited and local environmental impact • Less than 50 people • Generally work with natural processes SPRAGUE ENV MATES

4. Environmental History of U.S. Dominated by the frontier attitude Early Settlers Conquer the wilderness for human use. Resources are inexhaustable 1800 1700 1900 1600 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

5. Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Agricultural Revolution • Agriculture 10,000-12,000 years ago • NE Africa SE Asia • Slash and burn/shifting cultivation (See Fig. 2-2 p. 23) • Sustainable left a plot alone for 30 years • Essentially sustainable resource use • Started to Increased environmental impact SPRAGUE ENV MATES

6. Environmental History of U.S. John James Audubon Henry David Thoreau George Perkins Marsh 1800 1900 1750 Some conservationists were influential in raising environmental concerns later in this period. SPRAGUE ENV MATES

7. Henry David Thoreau • Massachusetts • Wrote Life in the Woods • Alarmed at the loss of wildlife in his home state SPRAGUE ENV MATES

8. George marsh • Man and Nature • Scientific case studies to show past misuse of resources led to the rise and fall of civilizations. SPRAGUE ENV MATES

9. John James Audobon • Hunter and painter • Catologed numerous birds SPRAGUE ENV MATES

10. Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Industrial Revolution • Industrial Revolution (mid-1700’s) • Started in England shifted to US • Shift to dependence on non-renewable resources • Wood to Fossil Fuels • Dramatic increase in environmental impact Lung Ailments, Sun Blocked out, SMOG!!! • Even changed Evolution Industrial Melanism SPRAGUE ENV MATES

11. Environmental History of U.S. General Revision Act 1st National Park: Yellowstone Ulysses Grant 1872 Yosemite and Sequoia National ParksLincoln 1864 1900 1950 1850 Several presidents, particularly Theodore Roosevelt, used this Act to establish 43 million acres of forest reserves. SPRAGUE ENV MATES

12. Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Information Revolution/Globalization • Information Revolution • Rate of information increase and speed of communication • Globalization • Decrease in cultural diversity SPRAGUE ENV MATES

13. Environmental History of U.S. • Theodore Roosevelt - utilitarian John Muir - preservationist 1900 1950 1850 Different worldviews SPRAGUE ENV MATES

14. John Muir • Founded Sierra Club • Preservationist Movement • Called for the protection of public lands from exploitation SPRAGUE ENV MATES

15. Theodore Roosevelt • 26th President • The Golden Age of Conservation • Created wildlife reserves • 1905 US Forest Service Established • 1916 National Park Service SPRAGUE ENV MATES

16. Environmental History of the United States: The Tribal and Frontier Eras • Tribal Era: Native Americans “Leavers” • Native Americans generally low-impact hunter-gather or agricultural societies • Frontier Environmental Worldview: European Settlement (1607-1890) • Significant impact as wilderness frontier was “tamed” SPRAGUE ENV MATES

17. Environmental History of the United States: The Early Conservation Era • Period: 1832-1960 • Concern over resource use • Preservation of public lands • Public health initiatives • Environmental restoration projects SPRAGUE ENV MATES

18. Environmental History of U.S. Franklin Roosevelt establishes CCC Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac published posthumously 1950 2000 1900 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

19. Dirty Thirties SPRAGUE ENV MATES

20. Dust Bowl 1930-1936 Franklin Roosevelt • Crop Rotation • NRCS • CCC planted 200 million trees • Changed the face of the Area forever. Many left Never to return. SPRAGUE ENV MATES

21. Great Depression • Hoover wanted to sell all public lands to developers “depression lack of funds” • Franklin D. Roosevelt: • Persuaded Congress to create jobs and restore the degraded environment • Civilian Conservation Corps; Plant trees care for parks 2 million employed SPRAGUE ENV MATES

22. Environmental History of U.S. Wilderness Act of 1964 government to protect undeveloped tracts of land First Earth Day 4/20/70 Sen. Gaylord Nelson 20 mill took to the streets Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb 1950 2000 1900 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

23. Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era • Period: 1960-2000 • The environmental movement “Silent Spring” • The science of ecology • Spaceship Earth worldview 1969 Apollo • 1980’s Anti Environment • 1990’s: environmental awareness SPRAGUE ENV MATES

24. Environmental History of U.S. SPRAGUE ENV MATES

25. Environmental History of U.S. Rachel Carson published Silent Spring 1950 2000 1900 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

26. Important Figures During The Environmental Era – Part 1 • Rachel Carson: Silent Spring (1962)(See Individuals Matter on p. 33) • Richard Nixon: EPA 1970; CWA 1972 • ESA 1973 • Jimmy Carter: DOE lower • dependence on foreign oil, Superfund SPRAGUE ENV MATES

27. Important Figures During The Environmental Era – Part 1 • Ronald Reagan: anti-environmentalist • Bill Clinton: environmental concerns a priority • George W. Bush Jr. SPRAGUE ENV MATES

28. Case Study: Aldo Leopold and His Land Ethic work with don’t conquer! • Individuals are interdependent • Ethics: respect for land • Shift from conqueror to member • Problems arise when land viewed as a commodity • Preservation of the integrity, stability, and beauty of land is right SPRAGUE ENV MATES