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1492
Arriving in North America!
When European colonists first arrived in what is now
the United States, they viewed North America as a
land with inexhaustible resources and a wilderness to
be conquered and managed for human use. Settlers
cleared forests to build settlements. They plowed
grasslands to plant crops, and mined for gold, lead,
and other minerals. -
Early Conservation Efforts
GeorgePerkins Marsh, a scientist and member of Congress
from Vermont, questioned the idea that America’s
resources were inexhaustible. He used scientific
studies to show how the rise and fall of past
civilizations were linked to the misuse of their soils,
water supplies, and other resources. Marsh was one
of the founders of the U.S. conservation movement. -
The Preservationist View early 20th Century
Led by naturalist John Muir,
wanted wilderness areas on some public lands
to be left untouched so they would be preserved
indefinitely. Muir called for setting aside some public lands as
protected wilderness, an idea that was not enacted
into law until 1964. -
Yosmite National Park
John Muir was responsible for the effort which established Yosemite National Park -
Sierra Club
Muir founded the Sierra Club, which is to this day a
political force working on behalf of the environment. -
Conservationist view
The conservationist view was led by Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot. Roosevelt was president of the United States, and Pinchot was the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service. They believed all public lands should be managed wisely and scientifically, primarily to provide resources for people. His term of office (1901–1909)
has been called the Golden Age of Conservation. He established more than 50 national wildlife reserves and more than tripled the size of the national forest reserves -
Aldo Leopold
A pioneer in forestry, soil conservation, wildlife ecology, and
wilderness preservation. In 1935, he helped found the U.S. Wilderness Society. -
Period: to
Economic Growth
Between 1940 and 1970, the United States underwent rapid economic growth and industrialization. The byproduct of industrialization was increased air and water pollution and growing
mounds of solid and hazardous wastes. Air pollution was so bad in many cities that drivers had to use their car headlights during the daytime. Thousands died each year from the harmful effects of air
pollution -
Sand Country Almanac - A. Leopold
Writing which laid the groundwork for the field of environmental ethics. He argued that the role of the human speciesshould be to protect nature, not conquer it -
Rachel Carson
It was necessary to broaden the concept of resource conservation. The concept included preservation of the quality of the planet’s air, water, soil, and wildlife The book"Silent Spring" was published in 1962. It
documented the pollution of air, water, and wildlife
from the widespread use of harmful pesticides such
as DDT. This influential book heightened public
awareness of pollution problems and led to the
regulation of several dangerous pesticides. -
Cuyahoga River
Cuyahoga River, running through Cleveland, Ohio, was so polluted with oil and other flammable pollutants that it caught fire several times -
California Oil Spill
A devastating oil spill off the California coast took place in 1969. Well-known wildlife species such as the American bald eagle, grizzly bear, whooping crane, and peregrine falcon became endangered. -
First Earth Day
20 million people in more than 2,000 communities and on college campuses attended rallies to demand improvements in environmental quality. Earth Day led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970 and to passage
of most of the environmental laws now in place in the United States. The 1970s are known as the decade of the environment. The United States led the world in expanding environmental awareness -
Period: to
It's a Battle
In the 1980s there was a backlash against environmental laws and regulations led by some corporate leaders and members of Congress. They argued that environmental laws were hindering economic growth. They pushed to weaken or eliminate many environmental laws passed during the 1970s and eliminate the EPA. -
Battle continues
Many of these campaigns continue today. Since the 1990s,
environmental leaders and their supporters have spent much of their time and resources fighting efforts to discredit the environmental movement. -
Period: to
There is Hope
Although it may take hundreds or thousands of years, ecologists note that ecosystems can recover from much of the environmental degradation caused by human activities. But making a shift toward
a more sustainable future involves some tough challenges. Environmental problems are so complex and widespread that it may seem hopeless, but that is not true. -
Call for Sustainable Actions (dates are general)
Some analysts call for the United States to regain and strengthen its global role in improving environmental quality and shifting to a more environmentally sustainable society and economy -
Hope Continued
Research suggests it takes only 5–10% of the population of a
community, a country, or the world to bring about major social and environmental change. Additionally, this research also shows that change can occur much faster than most people believe
