American environmental history [2 ed.] 0675208858

Table of contents :
Preface
Preface to the First Edition
Introduction
Part One: THE COLONIAL PERIOD
Chapter 1THE IAND ANDITS IMPERIAL SUITORS
Chapter2MERCANTILISMAND COLONIAL RESOURCES
Chapter3EVERYDAY LIFE ANDREVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENTS
Part TwoTHE NEW NATION
Chapter4FRONTIER !ANDS,INDIANS, AND SPECULATORS
ChaptersRESOURCE ENTERPRISES
Chapter6SOLVING PROBLEMSOF CAPITAL AND TRANSPORT
Chapter7ADVANCING FRONTIERS
Chapter8THE MINERALTREASURY OF THE WEST
Part ThreeAFTERTHECMLWAR
Chapter9THE RISE OF RESOURCE INDUSTRIALISM
Chapter 10FARMERS AND CATTLEMEN
Chapter 11SEEDS OF THECONSERVATION MOVEMENT
Chapter 12URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
PartFourTHETWENTIETH CENTIJRY
Chapter 13PROSPERI1Y, PROFITS,AND PROGRESSIVES
Chapter 14STRUGGLES OFEARLY CONSERVATIONISTS
Chapter 15THE BEGINNINGOF THE MODERN ERA
Chapter 16THE NEW DEALAND CONSERVATION
Chapter 17SOURCES OFAMERICAN ABUNDANCE
Chapter 18THE POLITICS OF POLLUTION
Index

Citation preview

AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY Second Edition

JOSEPH M. PETULLA University of San Francisco

Merrill Publishing Company A Bell &. Howell Information Company Colrnnbus Toronto London Melbourne

The cover photo is an 1868 Currier and Ives print drawn by E. F. Palmer, which represents a composite of nineteenth century America. Tts subtitle, 'Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way" comes from a poem written by En,.i;lish philosopher Bishop George Berkeley in 1752. In 1868 the most e;cciting phenomenon af the relentless 'course of empire" was the proliferating American railroad, which splits the picture into two diagonal sides af opposition--civilization and wilderness. The railroad is seen in this book as the technological culmination of the steam age, precipitating rapid eXJJansion in the process af urbanization, industrialization, commercialization and national integration. The railroad can further be viewed as the conveyor af civilization to the unforeseen horizons of the future. Log houses, simple a;ces, and covered wagons on narrow dirt roads would soon give way to bustling towns and cities -with frame houses, factories and eventually eight-lane interstate highways. The landscape with its mountains, lakes (and Indians) would also dissolve into the face af 'imperial' civilization. How this happened is the story af American environmental history. (Print courtesy af The Bancrqft Library) Those who find the context of the book discouraging should turn to the en,.qraving by William Blake (ca. 1774) at the end of the teJC(.. His moon ark, peace dove, and bow in the clouds are classic symbols of hope, more and more necessary for survival for dwellers of the ark. Published by Merrill Publishing Company A Bell & Howell Company Columbus, Ohio 43216 This book was set in Zapf Book. Administrative Editor: David Gordon Production Editor and Text Designer: Jeffrey Putnam Art CooI"dinator: Lorraine Woost Cover Designer: Cathy Watterson Copyright © 1988 by Merrill Publishing Company. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, including: photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. 'Merrill Publishing Company" and 'Merrill" are registered trademarks of Merrill Publishing Company. Previous edition copyrighted 1977 by )3oyd & l