History of the Environmental Movement in the United

History of the Environmental Movement in the United States

Pattern of Resource Use

First People of North America n n n 25, 000 years ago Native Americans Nomadic cultures Viewed themselves as one with nature Used resources but did not abuse the resource

The Exploitation Years 1620 -1900

The Roots of Abuse n n The First Colonists 3 “Things” that would change the continent • • • n n Gun Axe Wheel Manifest Destiny – man is controller of land, not part of the land Westward Expansion

Myth of Superabundance Raid of Resources n n n Raid of the Wildlife Raid of Eastern Forests Raid of Wisconsin Forests Raid of Minerals Cattle Barons and Sod Busters

Early Philosophers of Conservation n n Henry David Thoreau: wildlife areas George Perkins Marsh: Man and Nature (1864)

Early Activists and Actions n n John Wesley Powell: Powell Report – first advocate to regulate land use Yellowstone National Park Created (1872) by President Grant

The Conservation Years (1900 – 1942)

The Beginnings n n President Harrison – passed a law stating that the President could set aside lands for national parks and national forests Extremely crucial legislation for the environment

Early Leaders n n John Muir (18381914: Sierra Club Gifford Pinchot (1865 – 1946): 1 st Chief U. S. Forester Theodore Roosevelt (1901 – 1909): Boone and Crocket Club Reclamation Act: put Powell’s ideas into effect

Park Service n n National Park Service created in 1916 Stephen Mather: 1 st Head of Park Service

Citizen Conservation Groups n n n Sierra Club Audubon Wilderness Society

Decline of Private Lands

FDR and Renewed Conservation Initiatives n Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – 1 st Land Restoration Project

FDR (cont. ) n Soil Conservation Society (SCS) – professional soil conservationists to prevent erosion and loss of soil nutrients

FDR (cont. ) n n Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – planted trees, erosion control, nature trails, etc. Federal program to give the unemployed men jobs during the depression

FDR (cont. ) n n Eastern National Forest Created Wisconsin (1934) • Nicolet • Chequamegon

FDR (cont. ) n Taylor Grazing Act – controlled use of public land

WW II Close of the Conservation Era

The Environmental Era (1948 - ? ? ? )

Aldo Leopold n n n Environmental Philosophy “Sand County Almanac” Longtime Wisconsin educator and resident

Awakening of Environmental Philosophy n n Rachel Carson: “Silent Spring” Paul Ehrlich’s: “Population Bomb”

Decade of Unrest (1960’s) n n Racism and Vietnam Santa Barbara Oil Spill Cyuahoga River Burns: Cleveland A View from Space

Grass Roots Movement Explodes n n Nixon’s Environmental Message to Congress Supported political regulation of the environment

Earth Day n n n First Earth Day 1970 Gaylord Nelson • Wisconsin Governor and Senator n n 1 st teach in on the environment April 22

“Environmental Decade” Legislation n n Wilderness Act: 1964 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: 1968 National Environmental Policy Act: 1969 The Clean Air Act: 1972 The Clean Water Act: 1972

Legislation (cont. ) n n Pesticide Control Act: 1972 Endangered Species Act: 1973 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: 1976 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act: 1977

Legislation (cont. ) n n Alaska Lands Bill: 1980 Superfund: 1980

Institutionalizing Environmental Protection n n Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): federal Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR): state

Future Projections and Predictions n n n Global 2000 Global Future: Time to Act North-South World Development Report The Next 2000 Years The Ultimate Resource