Environmental History: Learning from the Past

Essential Learning Questions / Objectives Define three major cultural and environmental changes that have occurred since humans were hunter-gatherers. three major cultural and environmental changes three major cultural and environmental changes Describe the environmental history of the United States in terms of the Tribal and Frontier Eras, the Early Conservation Era, and the Environmental Era. environmental history of the United States environmental history of the United States Compare slash-and-burn agricultural practices with the modern advanced forms of farming. State the advantages and disadvantages of each. slash-and-burn agricultural practices with the modern advanced forms of farmingslash-and-burn agricultural practices with the modern advanced forms of farming List individuals who made major contributions to conservation/environmental movements in the United States and briefly describe these contributions. conservationenvironmentalconservationenvironmental Define environmental backlash. Briefly describe the effects of this backlash. environmental backlashenvironmental backlash Summarize the key environmental events of the 1980s in the U.S. and the World environmental events of the 1980s environmental events of the 1980s Compare and contrast the environmental policies of the Clinton administration and the Bush administration. environmental policies environmental policies

Key Concepts Three Major “Revolutions” in Human Culture U.S. Environmental History  Tribal Era  Frontier Era  Early Conservation Era  The Environmental Era  Tribal Era  Frontier Era  Early Conservation Era  The Environmental Era  Hunter-Gatherer Culture  The Agricultural Revolution  The Industrial Revolution  The Information Revolution  Hunter-Gatherer Culture  The Agricultural Revolution  The Industrial Revolution  The Information Revolution

Cultural Changes and the Environment: Hunter-Gatherer Culture  Hunter-gatherers: “modern humans” (homo sapiens sapiens) have existed about the last 60,000 years. Until 12,000 years ago we were mostly hunter-gatherers.  Usually limited environmental impact: very little environmental impact because they moved around in such small groups.  Nomadic: seasonal movement: lived in small who worked together to find food and survive.  Nomadic: seasonal movement: lived in small who worked together to find food and survive. Life expectancy: years, needed to constantly move looking for food, water and shelter.

Hunter-Gatherer Culture Often survived by being experts on the land and their natural surroundings. Advanced hunter- gatherers had a greater environmental impact with tools and fire.

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Agricultural Revolution  Agriculture: about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago (end of last ice age) agricultural settlements began to spring up. Domesticating wild plants and animals.  Quality of Life: people lived longer and better lives with a more consistent food supply.  Environmental Impact: was not large. Their dependence on human muscle power and crude tools while they cultivated small areas.  Agriculture: about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago (end of last ice age) agricultural settlements began to spring up. Domesticating wild plants and animals.  Quality of Life: people lived longer and better lives with a more consistent food supply.  Environmental Impact: was not large. Their dependence on human muscle power and crude tools while they cultivated small areas.

Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution ** Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution ** Early Agricultural practices With the agricultural revolution, people settled into communities, cultivated plants and domesticated animals. Slash-and-burn cultivation developed in tropical regions. Slash-and-burn cultivation developed in tropical regions. Sustainable cultivation (such as seen with this rotational type) meant little impact on the land. Slash-and-burn cultivation developed in tropical regions.  Essentially sustainable resource use Modern Agricultural practices Encourages: monoculture, irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides. Causes problems like: soil erosion, habitat fragmentation, land, air and water pollution. Damage to humans and wildlife through the use of fertilizers and pesticides - eutrophication - genetic resistance  Increased Environmental Impact Modern Agricultural practices Encourages: monoculture, irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides. Causes problems like: soil erosion, habitat fragmentation, land, air and water pollution. Damage to humans and wildlife through the use of fertilizers and pesticides - eutrophication - genetic resistance  Increased Environmental Impact retur n

3 Harvesting for 2 to 5 years 1 Clearing and burning vegetation 2 Planting 4 Allowing to revegetate 10 to 30 years Slash and Burn and Shifting Cultivation return

The Agricultural Revolution: Increased Impact on Environment Slash and Burn did destroy local environment, but was usually very small and had a limited impact. Still a problem in some parts of developing World. (Amazon)

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Industrial-Medical Revolution  Industrial Revolution (mid-1700’s):  began in England and spread to US in the 1800s  people lived in improved living conditions (longer and healthier)  environmental degradation dramatically increased  factory towns sprung up, less people needed to farm  Industrial Revolution (mid-1700’s):  began in England and spread to US in the 1800s  people lived in improved living conditions (longer and healthier)  environmental degradation dramatically increased  factory towns sprung up, less people needed to farm

The Industrial-Medical Revolution: A shift to nonrenewable resources A shift took place where humans moved from relying on wood and flowing water to a dependence on machines run by nonrenewable fossil fuels (first coal, then later oil and natural gas) The steam engine was the “workhorse” of the industrial revolution

The Industrial-Medical Revolution: Dramatic Increase in Environmental Impact Factory towns grew polluted, noisy and very hazardous. (air pollution, water pollution, toxics) Coal smoke filled cities. Fossil fuels powered larger farm machines for larger farms. Factory towns grew polluted, noisy and very hazardous. (air pollution, water pollution, toxics) Coal smoke filled cities. Fossil fuels powered larger farm machines for larger farms.

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Information/Globalization Revolution  Information Revolution: Since the 1950s we have moved towards technologies to share information rapidly on a global scale. Global access to information can help us understand and respond to environmental problems, but can lead to information overload. What will it mean for future environmental protections? Global Environmental Problems  Information Revolution: Since the 1950s we have moved towards technologies to share information rapidly on a global scale. Global access to information can help us understand and respond to environmental problems, but can lead to information overload. What will it mean for future environmental protections? Global Environmental Problems

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Information/Globalization Revolution  Information Revolution  Rate of information increase and speed of communication  Globalization leads to a world socially, economically, and environmentally more interconnected.  Decrease in cultural diversity  Awareness of environmental problems can lead us to respond effectively.  Information overload can lead to confusion and hopelessness.  Globalization leads to a world socially, economically, and environmentally more interconnected.  Decrease in cultural diversity  Awareness of environmental problems can lead us to respond effectively.  Information overload can lead to confusion and hopelessness. return

Cultural Changes and the Environment Hunter-gatherers Humans (Homo sapiens) have been in existence for about 160,000 years, a mere blink of an eye in terms of biological life. (early humans lived off the land – nomadic) Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution (10,000 to 12,000 years ago) Industrial-Medical Revolution Industrial-Medical Revolution (began in the 1700’s in England Progressed to United States in the 1800’s) Information and Globalization Revolution Information and Globalization Revolution (since 1950 and especially since 1970) return

Trade-Offs in the Name of Progress

Environmental History of the United States: The Tribal Eras  Tribal Era: Native Americans  N. America was occupied by Native Americans for at least 10,000 years.  Practiced hunting and gathering, burned and cleared fields, and planted crops.  Had deep respect for the land and its animals.  Had little environmental impact.  N. America was occupied by Native Americans for at least 10,000 years.  Practiced hunting and gathering, burned and cleared fields, and planted crops.  Had deep respect for the land and its animals.  Had little environmental impact.

Environmental History of the United States: The Tribal Era, Native Americans During the tribal era (prior to 1600s for last 10,000 years) 5-10 million people Hunter-gatherers Small agriculture No land ownership It’s sustainable living!

Environmental History of the United States: The Frontier Eras  Frontier Environmental Worldview: European Settlement ( )  Viewed most of the continent as having inexhaustible resources.  “Wilderness” was to be tamed or taken over  European settlers conquered Native Americans and spread across the continent.  The transfer of public lands to private interests accelerated the settling of the continent.  Viewed most of the continent as having inexhaustible resources.  “Wilderness” was to be tamed or taken over  European settlers conquered Native Americans and spread across the continent.  The transfer of public lands to private interests accelerated the settling of the continent.

Environmental History of the United States: The Early Conservation Era as the frontier of US was getting crowded, the “Early Conservation Era” began. California Gold Rush

 Period:  Concern over resource use  Preservation of public lands  Public health initiatives  Environmental restoration projects Environmental History of the United States: The Early Conservation Era

 Concern over resource use: a few people began to warn we were degrading the environment.  Water quality in cities declined as forests cut down upstream  Frontier became “crowded” with people moving westward.  Concern over resource use: a few people began to warn we were degrading the environment.  Water quality in cities declined as forests cut down upstream  Frontier became “crowded” with people moving westward.

Environmental History of the United States: The Early Conservation Era  Preservation of public lands: between 1870 and 1930 newly formed citizen groups and the government began to protect our nation’s natural resources.  Forest Preservation Act of 1891  1905 Antiquities Act  1890 Yosemite National Park  1916 National Park Service Act  Preservation of public lands: between 1870 and 1930 newly formed citizen groups and the government began to protect our nation’s natural resources.  Forest Preservation Act of 1891  1905 Antiquities Act  1890 Yosemite National Park  1916 National Park Service Act

Important Figures During The Early Conservation Era  Henry David Thoreau: an American writer who was alarmed by the loss of wild places in the northeastern US. ( )  George Perkins Marsh: a scientist and member of Congress helped legislators see need for resource conservation. Questioned whether our nation’s resources were inexhaustible. ( )

Important Figures During The Early Conservation Era John Muir ( ) Geologist, writer, inventor Founder of the Sierra Club Spent years lobbying to protect land Help get Yosemite National Park created.

Important Figures During The Early Conservation Era Aldo Leopold ( ) Strong proponent of Land Ethics, a philosophy in which humans as part of nature have an ethical responsibility to preserve wild nature. One of the founders of conservation and environmental movements of the 20th century.

Important Figures During The Early Conservation Era  Individuals are interdependent  Ethics: respect for land  Shift from conqueror to member  Problems arise when land viewed as a commodity  Preservation of the integrity, stability, and beauty of land is right Aldo Leopold and His Land Ethic

Important Figures During The Early Conservation Era  Theodore Roosevelt: his term in office called the Golden Age of Conservation.  1 st wave of national resource conservation  Most environmentalists view Teddy Roosevelt as the best environmental President.  Theodore Roosevelt: his term in office called the Golden Age of Conservation.  1 st wave of national resource conservation  Most environmentalists view Teddy Roosevelt as the best environmental President.  Gifford Pinchot: ( ) was first head of the US Forest Service, which was created in 1905 to manage and protect forests.

Important Figures During The Early Conservation Era  During the great depression of the 1930s the government (under Franklin Roosevelt bought land and hired workers to restore degraded environment and build dams for electricity.  2 nd wave of national resource conservation  World War II and post economic boom little changed in environmental protections.

Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era  Period: 1960-Today: the modern environmental movement began and more citizens urged government to improve environmental quality. Environmental Awakening.

Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era  The environmental movement : citizens began to organize in the 1960s and 1970s to demand political leaders protect public health and environment. (1964 Wilderness Act)

Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era Rachel Carson ( ): Started modern environmental movement Documented the pollution in the air, water and wildlife from DDT pesticide. Created a wake-up call that environment was in danger.

Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era  The science of ecology: between 1965 and 1970 the science of ecology emerged awakening people to the interconnections among population growth, resource use and pollution.

Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era  Spaceship Earth Worldview : 1969 Apollo Mission to moon sent back pictures of earth floating in the black void of space. Reminded everyone of the need to protect our home.

Environmental Era 1970s The Environmental Decade  April 20, 1970 First Earth Day  1970 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Created under Richard Nixon  1973 Endangered Species Act  1977 Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act  1980 Superfund Law

Environmental Era 1980s The Environmental Backlash  1980’s: backlash against environmentalism  An anti-environmental movement formed to weaken or do away with many environmental laws passed in the 1960s and 1970s.  1980’s: backlash against environmentalism  An anti-environmental movement formed to weaken or do away with many environmental laws passed in the 1960s and 1970s.  Ronald Reagan: advocated less environmental regulations, appointed industry members to key posts and cut funding for EPA.

 Since the 1990s environmentalist have spent most of their time trying to fight any weakening of environmental laws passed in the 1960s and 1970s.  Increased awareness of important but complex environmental issues such as sustainability, population growth, biodiversity protection, and threats from global warming.  Since the 1990s environmentalist have spent most of their time trying to fight any weakening of environmental laws passed in the 1960s and 1970s.  Increased awareness of important but complex environmental issues such as sustainability, population growth, biodiversity protection, and threats from global warming. Environmental Era 1990s Environmental awareness

Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era  2000’s – Now: IPCC  George W. Bush, like Reagan in the 80s, he opposed or wanted to weaken many existing environmental and public land-use laws and policies  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)  The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) was published in 2007  2000’s – Now: IPCC  George W. Bush, like Reagan in the 80s, he opposed or wanted to weaken many existing environmental and public land-use laws and policies  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)  The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) was published in 2007

Environmental History of U.S.

Environmental Milestones ( )

Changing Environmental Issues 20th Century Environmental Issues 21st Century Environmental Issues Local Global Acute Chronic Obvious Subtle Immediate Multigenerational Discrete Complex

Environmental Perspectives For much of history, our viewpoint has been that the Earth’s resources are unlimited and that we can exploit them with no fear of them running out. The human population was small. For all practical purposes, that viewpoint served us well. But the Industrial Revolution has changed everything.

Anthropocentric or Techno-centric Worldview Human-centred Nature is there to benefit mankind. Humans are not dependent on nature. Most people in MEDCs (more economically developed countries) hold this view. Includes the cornucopian (technology will always solve our problems) and the environmental management (stewardship) worldviews.

Eco-centric Worldview Life-centred Respects the rights of nature and acknowledges the dependence of humans on nature. Includes the soft technologists (favor small- scale, local action) and the deep ecologists (value nature more than humanity).

“Some people suggest that we are now on the brink of the third great revolution of human race: that following the Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial Revolution there will now be the Sustainability Revolution” Mather and Chapman (1995)

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Sustainability Revolution  Like its industrial counterpart, the Sustainability Revolution is creating a pervasive and permanent shift in consciousness and worldview (paradigm shift) affecting all facets of society.  The Sustainability Revolution evolved as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution's degradation of the environment and our well-being.  Like its industrial counterpart, the Sustainability Revolution is creating a pervasive and permanent shift in consciousness and worldview (paradigm shift) affecting all facets of society.  The Sustainability Revolution evolved as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution's degradation of the environment and our well-being.

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Sustainability Revolution  Concern for the environment, the economy and social equity;  Understanding of our dependence on the health of natural systems (dean air, dean water, healthy soils and forests, biodiversity) for our survival and well- being;  Knowledge of the limits of the Earth's ecosystems and the detrimental impact of unchecked human activities (population, pollution, economic growth);  Long-term, intergenerational perspective in actions and goals.  Concern for the environment, the economy and social equity;  Understanding of our dependence on the health of natural systems (dean air, dean water, healthy soils and forests, biodiversity) for our survival and well- being;  Knowledge of the limits of the Earth's ecosystems and the detrimental impact of unchecked human activities (population, pollution, economic growth);  Long-term, intergenerational perspective in actions and goals.

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Sustainability Revolution  By taking a comprehensive look at the interconnections among ecological, economic and equity issues ranging from global warming to pollution, health and poverty, we are more likely to seek and implement lasting solutions.