The Gilded Age, an era in American history filled with superficial success based off the constant grind of the working class, mass corruption, and an overall disregard for the living conditions of the common man. With industrialization booming, European immigration at a high, and an increase in urbanization, there was little concern over potential health and environmental hazards. Factories forced their workers to work long hours in unsafe conditions with few breaks and for little pay. Cities quickly became overcrowded. Entire families were housed in tenement housing, open sewers in the streets led to the contamination of well water, and the overall poor infrastructure led to the rampant spread of disease. Despite all of this, there was
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Between the mass deforestation for timber, the destruction of mountain ranges for the mining of coal, the erosion of land for the mining of minerals, the expansion of cattle into the grasslands, and the mass clearing of land for the expansion of railroads, we began quickly decimating the only natural resources that were available to us. In 1872, Congress created the first national park, Yellowstone National Park. Although the creation of Yellowstone kick-started the conservation movement, it was only “partly to preserve an area of remarkable natural beauty and partly at the urging of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which was anxious to promote western tourism” (Foner 716). In the following years, and despite the attempts of many people and organizations, the conservation of wilderness and wildlife was not a main issue on the federal government’s agenda and very little was …show more content…
After becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt used his authority to protect wildlife and public lands by creating the United States Forest Service (USFS) and establishing 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and 18 national monuments by enabling the 1906 American Antiquities Act. During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt protected approximately 230 million acres of public land” (National Park Service 1).
Although Roosevelt and Muir had similar interests, their views on wilderness conservation differed. Muir, a preservationist, wanted to preserve the forest and wildlife just as it was. He believed the environment should be protected by the federal government against exploitation for economic gain. Roosevelt believed that natural resources were there to be utilized and that they should be utilized; however, he believed in conserving the land for future generations and preventing the over consumption of those natural resources. He
Between the mass deforestation for timber, the destruction of mountain ranges for the mining of coal, the erosion of land for the mining of minerals, the expansion of cattle into the grasslands, and the mass clearing of land for the expansion of railroads, we began quickly decimating the only natural resources that were available to us. In 1872, Congress created the first national park, Yellowstone National Park. Although the creation of Yellowstone kick-started the conservation movement, it was only “partly to preserve an area of remarkable natural beauty and partly at the urging of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which was anxious to promote western tourism” (Foner 716). In the following years, and despite the attempts of many people and organizations, the conservation of wilderness and wildlife was not a main issue on the federal government’s agenda and very little was …show more content…
After becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt used his authority to protect wildlife and public lands by creating the United States Forest Service (USFS) and establishing 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and 18 national monuments by enabling the 1906 American Antiquities Act. During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt protected approximately 230 million acres of public land” (National Park Service 1).
Although Roosevelt and Muir had similar interests, their views on wilderness conservation differed. Muir, a preservationist, wanted to preserve the forest and wildlife just as it was. He believed the environment should be protected by the federal government against exploitation for economic gain. Roosevelt believed that natural resources were there to be utilized and that they should be utilized; however, he believed in conserving the land for future generations and preventing the over consumption of those natural resources. He