In the book, Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England, author William Cronon address the permanent environmental changes and concerns that took place at the hands of Native Americans and colonists in New England. With references to Henry David Thoreau, the first part of the book lays the ground for the reader to feel nostalgic towards the original beauty of New England that was assumed to exist prior to when the Europeans arrived. Cronon expands upon this imagery of New England environmental beauty through an arrangement of sources by presenting the drastic landscape changes that happened after the interaction of two different civilizations. Extensive evidence from this book shows how Native Americans were slowly
Cronon’s final conclusion and overarching theme in Changes in the Land was that the ecological alterations made between the 1600’s and 1800’s were directly related to European settlement. I agree with the conclusion made by Cronon because Cronon conveys through his book that the European colonists were greatly motivated by money and used the land as if there was a “limitless availability” (Cronon 169). The land in New England in the eyes of the colonists was simply “a form of capital” (Cronon 169), a way to make a profit leading them to overuse the resources, greatly altering the ecology and depleting resources. The majority of the information in Changes in the Land, and our textbook, Experiencing History: Interpreting America’s Past are equivalent, but it is rather evident that the information is conveyed through different lenses.
Former US President Jimmy Carter in his foreword to industrial companies, explains his disagreement regarding to constructing on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Carters intentions are to prevent industrial companies from building on the refuge site. He adopts a concerning tone in order to convey to the companies what they're doing is not humane, and communicates his argument by using sympathetic words to guilt these people from going through with their actions. President Carter opens by describing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as the"last truly great wilderness" in America. He emphasizes the shortage of these fascinating acres of land, making it a prerequisite action to save this preserve containing innumerable amounts of wildlife.
1William Cronon’s Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England observes the changes of New England caused by the Indians and European settlers. In Cronon’s thesis he states, “the shift from Indian to European dominance in New England entailed important changes—well known to historians—in the ways these peoples organized their lives, but it also involved fundamental reorganizations—less well known to historians—in the region’s plant and animal communities” (Cronon xv). When colonist from Europe ventured to North America, the ecosystem would gradually change as of consequence. Cronon highlights not only the ecological changes caused by colonization but also the native’s practices that affected the environment. 2The economic and environmental value of New England was obvious and to the Europeans.
John Muir was naturalist, author, philosopher, and a great advocate for preservation in which he took interest in since he was very young. Later in his life, he wrote many letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature which were read by millions. His most powerful quote consisted of few words, “Climb the mountain and get their good tidings, Nature’s peace will flow into you as the sunshine into the trees Although both Gifford Pinchot and John Muir sought the need of nature in humanity, their views greatly differed. Pinchot saw conservation as a means of managing the nation’s natural resources for long-term sustainable commercial use. On the other hand, Muir sided more with preserving the land than conserving (Muir, John).
Elaborating on concepts from the previous chapters, Cronon discusses how and why New England in the 1800s was ecologically different from New England in the 1600s. The author lists many relevant issues which influenced the ecological change: deforestation, dams, crop disease, European pests, and so forth. Cronon states that there is a clear difference between New England before and after European colonization, but stresses the dangers of analyzing ecological change simply by contrasting two landscapes (before and after European colonization). Cronon discusses how disease helped to promote European expansion, and how economic and ecological imperialisms reinforced each other. He also mentions that Indians continuously evolved, and an earlier
For the newly arriving European settlers, the landscape held symbolic meaning and value to both environmental and economic. Cronan points out thinkers like Benjamin Rush, “The landscape was a visible confirmation of the state of human society. Both underwent an evolutionary development from savagery to civilization,” (Cronan, 6). This way Cronon describes that colonists did not arrive on the
With the specific explanation about the influence of the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act, that it “specifically created the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, doubled the size of the former range, and restricted development in areas that are clearly incompatible with oil exploration”, Carter supports his argument that protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is necessary from a professional perspective of the singer of a relative major act by using ethos, and it not only appeals to the audiences by referring his character as the former US president, but also helps the author to raise credibility of his central argument. In conclusion, Jimmy Carter adeptly utilizes pathos, logos, and ethos to strengthen his argument that the industrial development in the Arctic National Wild Refuge should be prohibited in his foreword to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and land, A photographic Journey by Subhankar
Theodore Roosevelt’s most daring actions arose in the area of reservation of natural resources; his passion for nature was a result of his frail health as a boy. His childhood was plagued by suffering from severe asthma and weak eyesight, which followed him throughout adulthood as well. Roosevelt became an ostensibly passionate and enthusiastic outdoorsman. During the time which he grieved the loss of both his wife and mother, he took a leave from politics to spend two years on a cattle ranch in the badlands of the Dakota Territory; it came to be apparent to Theodore the environmental damage to the West and its wildlife. There, he became an unmistakably concerned advocate for preserving wilderness: a preservationist.
Due to the desire for advancement of trade, the known way of Indian life of taking a minimal amount from the land was altered and “disintegrated of their earlier ecological practices” (99)1. Indians began to kill an increasing number of animals of several species (beaver, otter, moose, fox, etc.) (99)1. By the Seventeenth century, this caused New England’s animal populations to decline drastically. (100)1.
The First Nations, the Virginians, and the New England Puritans all had a different respect or attitude towards the physical environment in North America. While the First Nations had inhabited the land for already some time, it was a new land for the European colonist. There are many different factors that contributed the three groups’ differing attitudes towards the environment, but it comes down to their purposes or goals in the “New World.” In the long run, these differing attitudes had multiple consequences.
Rachele Liba Professor Whitehead POSC 100 22 July 2016 Placing a Price on a Green Nation Having lived a nomadic lifestyle across the United States, I have had the opportunity to witness the wonders of our flourishing society and the everyday turmoils that we face. Rigorous innovation has helped Americans fulfill countless dreams, however with every gift there is a usually a price-tag or opportunity cost. Now in the midst of the general presidential election, platforms that represent our beliefs can undergo much needed reform to address the opportunity costs that were surpassed in the process of success. Among the various problems found in our society, a key movement that has raised necessary controversy has to do with environmental policy.
In his 1995 essay “The Trouble with Wilderness,” William Cronon declares that “the time has come to rethink wilderness” (69). From the practice of agriculture to masculine frontier fantasies, Cronon argues that Americans have historically defined wilderness as an “island,” separate from their polluted urban industrial homes (69). He traces the idea of wilderness throughout American history, asserting that the idea of untouched, pristine wilderness is a harmful fantasy. By idealizing wilderness from a distance, he argues that people justify the destruction of less sublime landscapes and aggravate environmental conflict.
The frontier ideology is defined as an allure of nature that is culturally spread and shaped by people’s ideals of how the wilderness should truly be. The problematic effects resulted by McCandless’ journey into the undomesticated land of Alaska are analogous to the quandaries that the frontier ideology creates for our environmental. Just as the ideology is embedded in his mind; it is also embedded in the minds of many others. However, McCandless story can actually teach us about the plights with our culture and in doing so, allows us to move forward. This has turned into a myth in which many believe that the most important parts of nature are areas that have been untouched by human hands.
It took 250$ and good deeds to create some doctor like me. Growing up I was the kid who looked at the world with open optimistic eyes. I grew up in a small city called Dora located in Iraq, the middle of three girls. I was born in the late 90s, I have been told that I was born "at the end of the good days". That's when Iraq's political circumstances were not at peace at all, at 2003 another war broke in Iraq.
