Chapter 2 Notes

1
Chapter 2 Notes

• Environmental History
• An Overview

2
Major Human Cultural Changes

• 1. Agricultural Revolution (about 10,000 to
  12,000 yrs ago).
• 2. Industrial Revolution (began 275 yrs ago).
• 3. Information Revolution (began 50 yrs ago.

3
Hunter-Gatherers and the Environment

• Characteristics small groups, nomadic, high
  infant mortality, short life span(35 yrs), used
  resources needed to survive.
• Environmental Impact low resource use, migration
  allowed recovery, lack of technology.

4
Agricultural Revolution

• ... gradual shift from roaming hunting/gathering
  to farming and raising livestock in settled
  communities.
• Environmental Impact small pop. size, lack of
  tools and technology kept farms small, fields
  allowed to regenerate.

5
Industrial Revolution

• Characteristics shift from wood and water for
  energy to fossil fuels from small-scale,
  handmade production to large-scale mechanization
  growth of large cities fewer farms needed to
  feed more people.
• Environmental Impact pollution, increased
  resource use, increased pop. size.

6
Information Revolution

• Characteristics new technologies (TV,
  computers, Internet) increased access to info
  globalization of economy and society.
• Environmental Impact increased monitoring and
  understanding of earth systems, possible decrease
  in resource and energy use, increase in
  environmental degradation.

7
Focus on the United States

• Tribal Era (from 10,000 yrs ago to 1600s)
  Native Americans hunted, gathered, and did
  primitive farming.
• Frontier Era (1607-1890) Vast areas of unused
  land is colonized and settled farming, mining,
  timber, railroads, etc.
• Conservation Era (1832-1960) U.S. govt protects
  public wilderness lands for future.
• Environmental Era (1960-2002) Citizens
  movement to urge pollution control/clean-up and
  environmental protection/preservation.

8
Conservation EraPeople and Events

• H. Thoreau(writer) and G. Marsh(scientist) need
  to conserve nature and our limited resources.
• J. Muir founded Sierra Club preserve wild
  areas by limiting human activities.
• T. Roosevelt federal wildlife refuges, national
  parks and forests.
• F. Roosevelt environmental restoration projects
  (Civilian Conservation Corps).

9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
Conservation EraPeople and Events Cont.

• Forest Reserve Act (1891) federal govt to
  protect public lands.
• U.S. Forest Service (1905) scientific management
  of resources.
• National Park Service Act (1916) preservation
  for future.
• Soil Conservation Act (1935) correct erosion
  problems in Great Plains.
• Improvements in sanitation and public health.

12
Environmental EraPeople and Events

• R. Carson (biologist/author) book Silent Spring
  encourages preservation of air, water, soil, and
  wildlife.
• Bald eagle and grizzly bear become endangered.
• Apollo mission photo of the earth in 1969.
• Earth Day 1 April 20, 1970.
• Gas and oil shortages.

13
(No Transcript)
14
Presidents

• Pro-Environment
• R. Nixon
• J. Carter
• B. Clinton
• Not-so-Pro
• R. Reagan
• G. Bush
• G.W. Bush