The politics surrounding the environment today are a super-heated source of conflict, at the same time that most opinion polls show that Americans widely embrace many environmental protections. While environmental concerns have long been a part of local politics in America, this course will largely explore the emergence and prominence of environmental issues in national politics, from the first organized conservation efforts in the late-nineteenth century to the present-day concerns with the global environment. Throughout the course we will investigate both how changes in the environment have shaped American politics and how political decisions have altered the American-an even world-wide-environment. Evaluation will be based on class participation, weekly critical writing, an analytical essay, and a final exam. Group A