Environmental History

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Environmental History
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Environmental history to 1900

• 3 Separate periods
• Native American and European Colonization Period
  (Pre-Columbus to 1789)
• Westward Expansion (Generally all of 19th century
  ending around 1890)
• Industrialization (1789-Early 20th Century)
• All three periods are bonded by the assumption
  that nature played a role in American Social and
  Economic development.
• Consequently, this resulted in major
  transformations of the natural landscape and the
  environment
• Basically, we are discussing the
  human-environment relationship and the role the
  abundance of natural resources played in creating
  the American experience

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I Native Americans and Europeans

• To understand this time period, one theme will be
  central Columbian Exchange
• As Europeans arrived in America, the global
  exchange of flora and fauna forever changed the
  history of the New World and Old World
• What are some examples?

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Native Americans

• Myth of the Ecological Indian
• It is generally accepted that Native Americans
  lived in harmony with nature and their
  environment. However, further research has
  proven the opposite for many American Indian
  Tribes.
• Another important theme is the idea of societal
  collapse.
• To understand both themes, we can look at two
  American Indian tribes that represent both
  concepts.
• Cahokia
• Anasazi (Chaco Canyon)

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Cahokia

• Emerged around 700 CE
• Around 1100-1200 CE, Cahokia had a settlement and
  population of nearly 30,000-40,000 (Paris and
  London had less at this time)
• Thus, they had to greatly manipulate their
  environment
• Farming, irrigation, degradation of forests,
  water sources, waste management, extensive
  trading networks etc.
• However, around 1200 CE, the population started
  to decline
• Why?
• Eventually they had society collapse and their
  city near St. Louis was left abandoned.

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Anasazi

• Located in American Southwest at Chaco Canyon.
• Present an excellent case study in societal
  collapse as their cliff dwellings adobe style
  housing was completely abandoned.
• A once great civilization had to leave, again,
  the question is Why?
• Points to relationship between them and their
  environment
• Many theories, but Diamond points to the fact
  that the Southwest is historically a fragile and
  marginal environment for agriculture

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II Western Expansion

• Roughly 1789-1890
• Western Expansion played a large role in nations
  ecological and social culture
• Concept of Manifest Destiny and the abundance of
  nature that was there for the conquest of
  Europeans and their quest for power and wealth.
• By taming the Wild West it is proof in many ways
  of the strength and grandeur of European
  civilization

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Western Expansion

• Common Themes
• Removal of native Americans from their lands
• Destruction of the Bison and the consequences
• The massive irrigation projects to bring water
  and agriculture to the West
• Impact of cities, urbanization, and
  industrialization on the West (Gold Rush, trains,
  cities, infrastructure, etc)

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III Industrialization

• Emerges in New England
• Impact on environment
• Case study of the growth of Chicago and how it
  forever changed the landscape (Chicago as western
  expansion and industrialization)
• Impact on urbanization
• Pollution, use of natural resources, slums, waste
  management etc.

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Environmental HistoryPre-Columbian to 1900

• Textbook pages to assist
• Pages 8-10 (Anasazi and Cahokia)
• Page 15 (Columbian Exchange)
• Pages 599-604 (Bison and Native American Policy)
• Pages 604-605 (Minors and Long Drive)
• Pages 610-612 (Fading Frontier-Closing of the
  West-Frederic Jackson Turner-Safety Valve)
• Page 610-National Parks etc
• Pages 560-561- Cities and pollutuion

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20th Century Environmental History

• 3 periods
• Conservation and Progressives
• 1960s Environmentalists
• 1980s Conservative response

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I Progressives and Conservation

• As the West closed in the 1890s, the idea of an
  inexhaustible nature died with it. People no
  longer looked at nature as a perception of
  abundance, but now as a source of scarcity that
  need to be preserved
• Conservation was important in the Progressive Era
• Publically debated the use of natural resources
  for the benefit of the public good. How can we
  conserve our resources but use them wisely at the
  same time?

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I Progressives and Conservation

• John Muir
• Preserve our resources as cathedrals of nature
• Gifford Pinchot and TR promoted conservation as a
  second approach
• Intelligent use of resources to promote economic
  good and conserve it for future generations
• National park system etc. established
• Richard Ballinger and Albert Fall
• wanted to continue Gilded Age business policy of
  using natural resources for economic gain only.
• These three debates helped shape environmental
  history in the 20th century

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II Liberal Reform and the 1960s

• After World War II, Americans changed their
  landscape extensively.
• Activists spoke out against the abuse of the
  environment and led the shift from conservation
  to environmentalism.
• Rachel Carson and Silent Spring
• Key Legislation in the 1960s and 1970s changed
  view of environment and governments role.

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Key Legislation in 60s and 70s

• 1963-
• Nuclear Ban Treaty
• Clean Air Act
• 1964-
• Wilderness Act
• 1965
• Water Quality Act
• Solid Waste Disposal Act
• Clean Air Act Amended
• 1966
• National Wildlife Refuge System

• 1969
• National Environmental Policy Act
• 1970
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Water Quality Control Act
• Clean Air Act Again
• Occupational Safety and Health Act
• 1972
• Water Pollution Control Act
• 1973
• Endangered Species Act

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III Conservative Response 1980s

• In response to the ideas of the great Society and
  the environment, Neo-Cons in the 1980 disputed
  the need for environmental laws.
• Disliked federal control of public land and the
  protection of the environment against industry

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Possible FRQ and DBQ Questions

• In what ways did the natural environment shape
  American Indian societies prior to European
  arrival and in what ways did American Indian
  societies shape the environment? Discuss with
  reference to the Cahokian and Anazasi people.
• Analyze the changes that have occurred since 1960
  in the goals, strategies and support of the
  environmental movement.
• Analyze the impact of Manifest Destiny and
  westward expansion on the environment and
  Americas impact on the environment.