HIST 371(S) American Environmental Politics (Same as Environmental Studies 371)
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 and even world-wide-environment.
Evaluation will be based on class participation, weekly critical writing, an analytical essay, and a final exam.
Group A