Conservation Reform
Created By Preston Lane, Julian Perez, and Roberto Rodriguez
Embedded Files
Thesis
The Conservation reform was a success for the Progressives to a great extent because it established the U.S. Forest Service, Antiquities Act of 1906, and the The Forest Reserve Act which protected natural resources and allowed for the preservation of public land.
“Conservation in the Progressive Era: Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/progressive-era-to-new-era-1900-1929/conservation-in-progressive-era/.
Problems Being Faced
Problems Being Faced
Widespread depletion and exploitation of natural resources and and forests caused by westward expansion and industrialization.
Deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and wildlife extinction.
The lack of federal oversight of public land that led to many more problems.
Fixes to these problems
Fixes to these problems
The Forest Reserve Act (1891)
The Forest Reserve Act gave the president the power to set aside public land as national forests. This gave protection for millions of acres of land.
The Antiquities Act (1906)
The Antiquities Act gave power to the presidents that allowed them to declare national monuments on public land. This was key in protecting national monuments such as The Grand Canyon.
U.S. Forest Service (1905)
The U.S. Forest Service was created by Theodore Roosevelt to help manage and conserve the forests for future use.
National Park Service "Antiquities Act of 1906." https://www.nps.gov/articles/american-antiquities-act-of-1906.htm.
Key Figures
“Theodore Roosevelt - Quotes, Children & Presidency.” Biography, www.biography.com/political-figures/theodore-roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
The 26th president of the United States of America. During his presidency he established 150 national forests, 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, and 55 federal bird and game reservations, as well as electing the first Chief Forester, Gifford Pinchot.
Library of Congress "John Muir, full-length portrait, facing right, seated on rock with lake and trees in background" https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b00011/
John Muir
John Muir
A Scottish immigrant who loved nature. During his lifetime he wrote 300+ magazines and about 12 books based on his adventures through the wilderness. Muir had inspired Roosevelt to set aside land for national reserves and parks.
Library of Congress "Pinchot, Gifford (1909), Governor of Pennsylvania" https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3c03915/
Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot
The first Chief Forester of the United States of America, appointed by President Roosevelt. He promoted using the entirety of a felled tree to increase efficiency and decrease waste within the forests.
Goals And Tactics
Some goals these people wanted to accomplish include:
Conserving America's Resources
Reduce/end the waste of materials
Recover neglected or wasted areas of land and forests.
Legislation and regulation
Making the public aware and advocacies
The establishment of protected areas, they're essentially national forests.
Connections between Gilded, Progressive, and Civil Rights movements
Connections between Gilded, Progressive, and Civil Rights movements
The Progressive era was mainly focused on fixing the problems that were present during the Gilded age; for example, the Gilded age offers us the Transcontinental Railroad, which was a monopoly. The Progressive era was a time where people questioned the amount of power that these businesses had. Thus leading the calls for reforms and changes of policies. Another connection that's between the Progressive era and Civil rights movement would be the Fair housing act of 1968. The act connect to the Progressive era because of the NAACP, the NAACP is an organization that was formed in 1909 that centered around racial equality. The Fair Housing act further pushed the agenda of racial equality by allowing people of color to by and rent homes.
Punch "The natives are restless tonight."
Citations / Sources
Citations / Sources
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) the Conservation President, , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” FWS.Gov, www.fws.gov/staff-profile/theodore-roosevelt-1858-1919-conservation-president#:~:text=During%20his%20very%20active%20presidency,the%20first%2018%20national%20monuments. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
“Who Was John Muir?” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/jomu/learn/historyculture/who-was-john-muir.htm. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
“Gifford Pinchot: The Father of Forestry (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/articles/gifford-pinchot.htm. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
“Conservation in the Progressive Era: Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/progressive-era-to-new-era-1900-1929/conservation-in-progressive-era/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025
“Gilded Age ‑ Fashion, Period & Definition.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/19th-century/gilded-age. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/ip/108646.htm#:~:text=Progressives%20were%20interested%20in%20establishing,for%20women%20and%20U.S.%20workers. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
“Conservation in the Progressive Era: Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929: U.S. History Primary Source Timeline: Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress: Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/progressive-era-to-new-era-1900-1929/conservation-in-progressive-era/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
“Our History.” NAACP, 1 Nov. 2024, naacp.org/about/our-history#:~:text=The%20NAACP%20works%20to%20remove,of%20the%20American%20Bar%20Association.
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