1: What are the 4 stages of American Environmental History?
Hunter-Gatherer Society (25,000- 12,00 ybp) , Agricultural Revolution (C. 12,000 ybp) , Industrial/Medical Revolution (1700's to 1900's) , and Information/Globalization Revolution (1980's onward)
2: Why were the “Hunter-Gatherers” considered to have a low environmental impact?
It have small population, low resource use per person, Nomadic/Shifting land use.
3: Why do you think Jared Diamond coined the agricultural revolution as the “Greatest Mistake in Human History”?
It created more waste, demand and destruction of habitat destruction.
4: Contrast the Good and Bad of the Agricultural Revolution:
Good:More food, supported a larger population, longer life expectancy, high standard of living, formation of villages town and city, towns/cities served as centers for trade govt. and religion.
Bad:Destruction of wildlife habitats from clearing forests/grasslands. Killing of wild animals feeding on grass or crops. Fertile land turned into desert by livestock overgrazing. Soil eroded into streams and lakes. Towns and city concentrated on waste/pollution and increase. Increased armed conflict and slavery ownership.
5: What are the “Roots of abuse” in the American Frontier Era?
First colonies, guns/axes/wheels (3 things that would change the continent), Manifest Destiny, Westward expansion, "vast, unlimited resources."
6: Look at the graphic of the North American Buffalo territory- what happened to the Buffaloover a short period of time?
It ranged a lot of spots in North America in 1500, but in 1906 it only ranged in North America.
7: List HOW the Industrial Revolution impacted the environment.
Shifted renewable wood to non-renewable fuel, switched from small scale production to large-scale manufacturing, factory towns and cities appeared, moved from rural to urban areas, mechanized agriculture increased food production.
8: List the GOOD and Bad news of the Industrial-Medical Revolution
Good:Mass production of useful and affordable products. Higher living standard for many. Greatly increased agricultural production. Lower infant mortality. Longer life expectancy. Increased urbanization. Lower rate of everything.
Bad:Increased air pollution. Increase water pollution. Increased waste production. Soil depletion and degradation. Groundwater depletion. Habitat destruction and degradation. Biodiversity depletion.
9: List some events of the Early Conservation Era:
1832-1870: Growing public alarm at loss of forests, resources and "wilderness". Beginnings of federal control
1870-1930: New government and non government groups formed to protect natural resources. John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot. "Golden age of Conservation"
1930-1960: Great Depression, Dust Bowl, World wars. Growing sense of environmental responsibility and connection. Large tracts of land purchased and managed by govt.
10: Explain how each of the following “Early Environmentalists” impacted the environmental
movement:
Henry David Thoreau: Massachusetts wildlife
George Perkins Marsh: Warned about collapse of civilization in "Man of Nature" (1864)
John Wesley Powell: First advocate to regulate land use.
President Grant: Yellowstone National Park (1872)
President Harrison: Passed law stating the President can set aside lands for national parks and forests.
John Muir: Founded Sierra Club 1892
Gifford Pinchot: First Chief U.S Forester
Theodore Roosevelt: Created 40+ wildlife refuges, tripled forest reserves
Stephen Mather: First Head of Park Service
11: What was the 1st federal land restoration project?
Tennesee Valley Authority
12: What were the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) responsible for?
planting trees, control, nature trails,...
13: Why was the “Taylor Grazing Act” important to the environment? Explain.
It regulated the grazing of public land. It used to prevent exposure of the top soil.
14: Why was WWII the end of the Conservation Era?
After WWII technology began to advance, it sped up the rate of consumption of natural resources.
15: When did the environmental era start? Who was responsible for “starting” the movement? How?
It started in 1960's. Rachel Carson was responsible for starting the movement, by the book "Silent Spring"
16: Who was Aldo Leopold?
He was an environmental philosopher who wrote “Sand County Almanac”.
17: When was the 1st official “Earth Day”?
January 1st, 1970
18: What were some key legislation in the 60‘s, 70’s and 80’s?
Wilderness Act: 1964
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: 1968
National Environmental Policy Act: 1969
The Clean Air Act: 1972
The Clean Water Act: 1972
19: What is the EPA? What are they responsible for?
Is the Environmental Protection Agency. For monitoring air and water quality.
20: Who are the NRCS? What are they responsible for? What about CITES?
Natural Resources Conservation Service was responsible for monitoring private land use and also educates and advises. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is an agreement to punish people who trade endangered organisms or their body parts.
21: List the following:
Montreal Protocol: 1987. An international agreement to phase out use of ozone-depleting chemicals
IPCC: 1998. Thousands of scientists monitor, share and publish reports on atmospheric change
Kyoto Protocol: 1997. An international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases by 5% by 2012
22: List some of the important U.S. Environmental Laws below:
Marine Protection Act– 1972 law to regulate the disposal of municipal, solid or hazardous waste at sea or into the sea
Food Quality Protection Act– 1996 law that enforces safe pesticide levels in food
Surface Mining Control And Reclamation Act– 1979 law regulating coal mining, and enforces reclamation of altered land
TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act)– 1976 law that inventories all chemicals in use in the US
Energy Policy Act– 2005 law providing big tax incentives for research and use of alternative energies
Hunter-Gatherer Society (25,000- 12,00 ybp) , Agricultural Revolution (C. 12,000 ybp) , Industrial/Medical Revolution (1700's to 1900's) , and Information/Globalization Revolution (1980's onward)
2: Why were the “Hunter-Gatherers” considered to have a low environmental impact?
It have small population, low resource use per person, Nomadic/Shifting land use.
3: Why do you think Jared Diamond coined the agricultural revolution as the “Greatest Mistake in Human History”?
It created more waste, demand and destruction of habitat destruction.
4: Contrast the Good and Bad of the Agricultural Revolution:
Good:More food, supported a larger population, longer life expectancy, high standard of living, formation of villages town and city, towns/cities served as centers for trade govt. and religion.
Bad:Destruction of wildlife habitats from clearing forests/grasslands. Killing of wild animals feeding on grass or crops. Fertile land turned into desert by livestock overgrazing. Soil eroded into streams and lakes. Towns and city concentrated on waste/pollution and increase. Increased armed conflict and slavery ownership.
5: What are the “Roots of abuse” in the American Frontier Era?
First colonies, guns/axes/wheels (3 things that would change the continent), Manifest Destiny, Westward expansion, "vast, unlimited resources."
6: Look at the graphic of the North American Buffalo territory- what happened to the Buffaloover a short period of time?
It ranged a lot of spots in North America in 1500, but in 1906 it only ranged in North America.
7: List HOW the Industrial Revolution impacted the environment.
Shifted renewable wood to non-renewable fuel, switched from small scale production to large-scale manufacturing, factory towns and cities appeared, moved from rural to urban areas, mechanized agriculture increased food production.
8: List the GOOD and Bad news of the Industrial-Medical Revolution
Good:Mass production of useful and affordable products. Higher living standard for many. Greatly increased agricultural production. Lower infant mortality. Longer life expectancy. Increased urbanization. Lower rate of everything.
Bad:Increased air pollution. Increase water pollution. Increased waste production. Soil depletion and degradation. Groundwater depletion. Habitat destruction and degradation. Biodiversity depletion.
9: List some events of the Early Conservation Era:
1832-1870: Growing public alarm at loss of forests, resources and "wilderness". Beginnings of federal control
1870-1930: New government and non government groups formed to protect natural resources. John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot. "Golden age of Conservation"
1930-1960: Great Depression, Dust Bowl, World wars. Growing sense of environmental responsibility and connection. Large tracts of land purchased and managed by govt.
10: Explain how each of the following “Early Environmentalists” impacted the environmental
movement:
Henry David Thoreau: Massachusetts wildlife
George Perkins Marsh: Warned about collapse of civilization in "Man of Nature" (1864)
John Wesley Powell: First advocate to regulate land use.
President Grant: Yellowstone National Park (1872)
President Harrison: Passed law stating the President can set aside lands for national parks and forests.
John Muir: Founded Sierra Club 1892
Gifford Pinchot: First Chief U.S Forester
Theodore Roosevelt: Created 40+ wildlife refuges, tripled forest reserves
Stephen Mather: First Head of Park Service
11: What was the 1st federal land restoration project?
Tennesee Valley Authority
12: What were the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) responsible for?
planting trees, control, nature trails,...
13: Why was the “Taylor Grazing Act” important to the environment? Explain.
It regulated the grazing of public land. It used to prevent exposure of the top soil.
14: Why was WWII the end of the Conservation Era?
After WWII technology began to advance, it sped up the rate of consumption of natural resources.
15: When did the environmental era start? Who was responsible for “starting” the movement? How?
It started in 1960's. Rachel Carson was responsible for starting the movement, by the book "Silent Spring"
16: Who was Aldo Leopold?
He was an environmental philosopher who wrote “Sand County Almanac”.
17: When was the 1st official “Earth Day”?
January 1st, 1970
18: What were some key legislation in the 60‘s, 70’s and 80’s?
Wilderness Act: 1964
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: 1968
National Environmental Policy Act: 1969
The Clean Air Act: 1972
The Clean Water Act: 1972
19: What is the EPA? What are they responsible for?
Is the Environmental Protection Agency. For monitoring air and water quality.
20: Who are the NRCS? What are they responsible for? What about CITES?
Natural Resources Conservation Service was responsible for monitoring private land use and also educates and advises. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is an agreement to punish people who trade endangered organisms or their body parts.
21: List the following:
Montreal Protocol: 1987. An international agreement to phase out use of ozone-depleting chemicals
IPCC: 1998. Thousands of scientists monitor, share and publish reports on atmospheric change
Kyoto Protocol: 1997. An international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases by 5% by 2012
22: List some of the important U.S. Environmental Laws below:
Marine Protection Act– 1972 law to regulate the disposal of municipal, solid or hazardous waste at sea or into the sea
Food Quality Protection Act– 1996 law that enforces safe pesticide levels in food
Surface Mining Control And Reclamation Act– 1979 law regulating coal mining, and enforces reclamation of altered land
TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act)– 1976 law that inventories all chemicals in use in the US
Energy Policy Act– 2005 law providing big tax incentives for research and use of alternative energies