9.3: Teddy Roosevelt & Conservation
The Players: TR, Pinchot and Muir
The Impact of Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt & Conservation TR = made conservation of resources a priority John Muir = convinced TR to set aside 148 Million Acres of forest TR: 1.5 Million Acres for water-power sites, 80 million for mineral/water resources, 50 wildlife sanctuaries Gifford Pinchot: named head of USFS in 1905 TR & Pinchot differed from Muir – Believed in conservation – NOT complete preservation Conservation = preserve some wilderness, develop other parts for the common good EX: Roosevelt funded irrigation projects to transform dry wilderness (dams, etc…)
The Bigger Picture: The Role of Government The Privileges of a Few vs. The Rights of Many Government by Men for Human Welfare vs. Government by Money for Profit TR & Pinchot tried to balance these 2 approaches Big Business: favored unrestricted development Complete Preservationists: supported protecting all wilderness from development Who do you agree with and why?
The National Parks System & Teddy Roosevelt rt=title&count=30&media=video rt=title&count=30&media=video