1900’s – 1930’s

Beginnings of the Conservation Movement

• Westward expansion no longer possible• Progressive Era : attempt to cleanse the nation of

“evils” that resulted for unrestricted economic growth (industrialization)

The end of the “never-ending” West

Technological/ Social Changes• Automobile• Technology• Sought the good life• Irresponsible use of nation’s natural resources

contributed to Great Depression

• Regulated use of nation’s natural resources

• Organized first conservation conference

• U.S. Fish/Wildlife Service• Believed in conservation not

preservation• Responsible, efficient and planned

use of resources.• increased national forests from 42

million acres to 172 million acres• Grand Canyon• Petrified Forest

Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Studied Forestry• Like Teddy Roosevelt

believed in conservation not preservation of nature.• Conflict arose between

two groups• Dam in Yosemite National

Park

Gifford Pinchot

Roaring Twenties• Overexploited land to produce wheat.• Dust bowl

• Presidential apathy by Harding/ Coolidge

• Hoover: interest in resource management