Environmental History

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the environmental movement in America can be traced to the politics and conservation policies of three men and how Frederick Law Olmstead, Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir had possibly the strongest influence on what modern day America considers environmentalism and conservation. It shows how the combination of these three men ultimately had a tremendous effect on the mindset of the conservationalist population in North America. It evaluates how Olmstead's parks are known and imitated throughout the world, Roosevelt's environmental policies were so innovative and ahead of their time, that today eighty some years after his death, we still have many National Forests and National Parks to enjoy and how the deep rooted environmental convictions of John Muir are responsible for the beating heart of the environmental movement.

From the Paper:

"It was as President that Roosevelt had the largest effect on the conservation movement in the United States. When Roosevelt began his quest to put aside land for future generations, the forest reserves in the United States included approximately forty three million acres. Under Roosevelt's direction, this expanded to one hundred and ninety four million acres which represents nearly a four hundred percent increase in the acreage that was set aside. The area that Roosevelt protected is larger than France, Belgium, and the Netherlands combined. "

More papers on Environmental History:

• Essay # 31053 : "Environmental History of the Pacific Northwest."
• Essay # 8487 : "Environmental History"
• Essay # 84299 : "History of Easter Island"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: