Environmental History: An Overview

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

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

3. Cultural Changes and the Environment: Hunter-Gatherer Culture • Hunter-gatherers • Nomadic: seasonal movement • Limited and local environmental impact • Generally work with natural processes

4. Environmental History of U.S. Dominated by the frontier attitude 1800 1700 1900 1600

5. Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Agricultural Revolution • Agriculture • Slash and burn/shifting cultivation (See Fig. 2-2 p. 23) • Essentially sustainable resource use • Increased environmental impact Refer to Connections on p. 24

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.

7. Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Industrial Revolution • Industrial Revolution (mid-1700’s) • Shift to dependence on non-renewable resources • Dramatic increase in environmental impact Refer to Connections onp. 25

8. Environmental History of U.S. General Revision Act 1st National Park: Yellowstone Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks 1900 1950 1850 Several presidents, particularly Theodore Roosevelt, used this Act to establish 43 million acres of forest reserves.

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

10. Environmental History of U.S. • Theodore Roosevelt - utilitarian John Muir - preservationist 1900 1950 1850 Different worldviews

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

12. 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

13. Environmental History of U.S. Franklin Roosevelt establishes CCC and SCS Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac published posthumously 1950 2000 1900

14. Important Figures During The Early Conservation Era • Henry David Thoreau • George Perkins Marsh • John Muir • Theodore Roosevelt • Alice Hamilton • Franklin Roosevelt

15. Environmental History of U.S. Wilderness Act of 1964, spurred on by Wallace Stegner First Earth Day Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb 1950 2000 1900

16. Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era • Period: 1960-2000 • The environmental movement • The science of ecology • Spaceship Earth worldview • 1980’s: anti-environmental movement • 1990’s: environmental awareness

17. Environmental History of U.S.

18. Environmental History of U.S. Rachel Carson published Silent Spring 1950 2000 1900

19. Important Figures During The Environmental Era – Part 1 • Rachel Carson: Silent Spring (1962)(See Individuals Matter on p. 33) • Richard Nixon: EPA; ESA • Jimmy Carter: DOE, Superfund

20. Important Figures During The Environmental Era – Part 1 • Ronald Reagan: anti-environmentalist • Bill Clinton: environmental concerns a priority • George W. Bush Jr.: environmental concerns not a priority

21. Case Study: Aldo Leopold and His Land Ethic • 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