Rethinking the American Environmental Movement post-1945 (American Social and Political Movements of the 20th Century)

__Rethinking the American Environmental Movement post-1945__turns a fresh interpretive lens on the past, drawing on a wide range of new histories of environmental activism to analyze the actions of those who created the movement and those who tried to thwart them.Concentrating on the decades since World War II, environmental historian Ellen Griffith Spears explores environmentalism as a "field of movements" rooted in broader social justice activism. Noting major legislative accomplishments, strengths, and contributions, as well as the divisions within the ranks, the book reveals how new scientific developments, the nuclear threat, and pollution, as well as changes in urban living spurred activism among diverse populations. The book outlines the key precursors, events, participants, and strategies of the environmental movement, and contextualizes the story in the dramatic trajectory of U.S. history after World War II. The result is a synthesis of American environmental politics that one reader called both "ambitious in its scope and concise in its presentation."This book provides a succinct overview of the American environmental movement and is the perfect introduction for students or scholars seeking to understand one of the largest social movements of the twentieth century up through the robust climate movement of today. Rethinking the American Environmental Movement post-1945 turns a fresh interpretive lens on the past,drawing on a wide range of new histories of environmental activism to analyze the actions of those who created the movement and those who tried to thwart them. Concentrating on the decades since World War II,environmental historian Ellen Griffith Spears explores environmentalism as a “field of movements” rooted in broader social justice activism. Noting major legislative accomplishments,strengths,and contributions,as well as the divisions within the ranks,the book reveals how new scientific developments,the nuclear threat,and pollution,as well as changes in urban living spurred activism among diverse populations. The book outlines the key precursors,events,participants,and strategies of the environmental movement,and contextualizes the story in the dramatic trajectory of U.S. history after World War II. The result is a synthesis of American environmental politics that one reader called both “ambitious in its scope and concise in its presentation.” This book provides a succinct overview of the American environmental movement and is the perfect introduction for students or scholars seeking to understand one of the largest social movements of the twentieth century up through the robust climate movement of today. Rethinking the American Environmental Movement post-1945 turns a fresh interpretive,lens on the past,drawing on a wide range of new histories of environmental activism to analyze the actions of those who created the movement and those who tried to thwart them.,Concentrating on the decades since World War II,environmental historian,Ellen Griffith Spears explores environmentalism as a “field of movements” rooted in broader social justice activism. Noting major legislative accomplishments,strengths,and contributions,as well as the divisions within the ranks,the book reveals how new scientific developments,the nuclear threat,and pollution,as well as changes in urban living spurred activism among diverse populations. The book outlines the key precursors,events,participants,and strategies of the environmental movement,and contextualizes the story in the dramatic trajectory of U.S. history after World War II. The result is a synthesis of American environmental,politics that one reader called both “ambitious in its scope and concise in its presentation.”,This book provides a succinct overview of the American environmental movement and is the perfect introduction for students or scholars seeking to understand one of the largest social movements of the twentieth century up through the robust climate movement of today. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Series Editor’s Introduction 7 Illustrations 8 Acknowledgments 9 Abbreviations 10 Introduction: A Field of Movements 16 Environmentalism Redefined 17 A Changing Narrative 18 Transformation after World War II 21 The Color Line 22 Environmentalism and the State 24 Conservation and Conservatism 25 A Transnational Movement 26 Environmentalism as a Science-based Movement 27 An Intersectional Movement 28 The Climate Change Movement 29 Notes 30 Chapter 1: Antecedents: A Wide Arc (prior to 1945) 32 Natural Rights 33 Resistance to Slavery: A Claim about Nature 35 A Question of Sovereignty 36 Reimagining Nature 37 The Piggery Wars and Swill Milk: Urban Public Health Reform 39 Reconstruction and Public Health Reform 40 Growing Interest in Natural Science 41 Conservationism Emerges 42 Campaigns for the Protection of Nature 43 Anti-corporate Populist Agrarianism 44 Transforming Urban Landscapes 45 Theodore Roosevelt: Conservation and Empire 46 The Hetch Hetchy Fight 48 Nature Study and Conservation Reform 49 Progressive Era Women Advocate Reform 50 African American Thought and Conservation Activism 51 Settlement Houses Anchor Urban Reform 53 Ecology: An Emerging Discipline 55 Conservationism and White Racial Advancement 56 The New Deal Era 58 New Conservation Groups 61 Race, Occupational Hazards, and Human Health 62 The pre-World War II Field of Movements 63 Notes 64 Chapter 2: The Great Acceleration and the Postwar Rise of Environmentalism (1945–1962) 70 The Rise of Environmentalism 73 Conservation and World Peace 74 “A Fight for Democracy” 74 International Influences 76 Global Resource Development Strategy 77 Conservationism in Transition 78 Ecology: Science and Activism 80 The Wilderness Movement Grows: Echo Park and Beyond 82 Atomic Activism 85 Citizen Science 88 Nonviolent Direct Action 90 New Understandings of the Ecology of Disease 91 The Movement to the Suburbs 92 Urban Ecologies 92 DDT Activism: “A Real Health Movement” 93 Rachel Carson 96 Notes 99 Chapter 3: Expanding the Field of Movements (1963–1980) 104 The Wilderness Act of 1964 105 Fighting Pesticides 106 1960s Counterculture Embraces Ecology 109 Theologies for the Earth 111 Responses to Urban Ecological Problems 112 Rural Advocacy 113 A National Environmental Policy 114 Earth Day 1970 115 “Black Ecology” 117 Native Americans and the Ecology Movement 119 A Fertile Time in Court 119 The Environmental Protection Agency, 1970 121 A New Movement Infrastructure 122 Greenpeace Emerges 125 Cold War Militarization: Native American Tribes Resist 126 “Ecological Agrarianism” 127 Labor and Environmental Reform 128 Deindustrialization Dims Coalition Prospects 130 No Nukes: “A Great Big Time Bomb” 131 Population Growth and Population Control 132 The Stockholm Conference, 1972 133 Grassroots Anti-Toxics Campaigns 133 Three Mile Island 136 Notes 138 Chapter 4: The Conservative Countermovement and the Upsurge of Environmental Justice (1980–1990) 144 The Rise of the Conservative Movement 145 Reagan Administration Actions 148 Environmental Activism Swells 149 Environmental Justice 154 Bhopal: Transnational Chemical Disaster 157 Industry’s Response to the Upsurge in Environmentalism 158 Mainstream Groups Adapt 162 Electoral Strategies 162 The Environmental Movement Expands 163 Women’s Environmental Activism and Ecofeminism 165 Environment and Labor 166 Biocentrism and Deep Ecology 168 Animal Protection 169 Radical and Libertarian Environmentalism 170 Religious Environmental Activism 171 The Sustainability Paradigm 172 Oil Disaster 173 Notes 174 Chapter 5: Globalizing Environmentalism (1990–2000) 179 Earth Day 1990 179 A New Era of Transnational Activism 180 Obstacles for Environmentalism 182 Market-Based Environmental Reform: The Clean Air Act of 1990 183 The Clinton Administration 185 Movement Challenges 186 Free Market Environmentalism or “Green Capitalism” 186 Environmental Justice Surges 188 Environmental Justice and the EPA 191 Nature Preservation Versus Land Justice 194 The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 196 The Power of Philanthropy 197 Rio: The Earth Summit 197 The “Wise Use” Movement 199 Window of Opportunity Closing 200 Kyoto Protocol Fails to Gain Official U.S. Support 201 Tackling Military Toxics 201 Precautionary Action in a Risk Society 202 Media and Environmental Activism 203 Globalization, Direct Action, and the WTO 204 Notes 207 Chapter 6: Intersectional Activism and Climate Justice (2001–present) 212 “A Common Concern of Mankind” 213 9/11: Global Geopolitics Alter the Terrain of Protest 215 Hurricane Katrina Rips Away the Veil 215 Climate Action and Climate Justice 216 Stakeholders Sue EPA to Address Climate Change 218 Climate Justice and the Environmentalism of the Poor 220 Global Climate Action 221 Climate Denialism Forestalls Action 223 Climate Action Efforts Redouble 224 The State of the Movement 229 “Slow Violence” at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina 232 Labor/Environment Alliance Tackles Green Jobs and Toxics Policy 233 Food Justice Activism 234 Intersectional Movements 236 Power and Light: Church Engagement with Climate Activism 237 The Trump Era: A “Third War” on Environmentalism 237 The Trump Administration EPA 239 Resistance Erupts 240 Notes 243 Chapter 7: Hope in a Strange Season 251 Regaining the Initiative 253 Strengthening Alliances 254 Notes 256 Bibliography 257 Index 274 Cover......Page 1 Half Title ......Page 2 Series Page......Page 3 Title Page ......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Table of Contents ......Page 6 Series Editor’s Introduction......Page 7 Illustrations......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Abbreviations......Page 10 Introduction: A Field of Movements......Page 16 Environmentalism Redefined......Page 17 A Changing Narrative......Page 18 Transformation after World War II......Page 21 The Color Line......Page 22 Environmentalism and the State......Page 24 Conservation and Conservatism......Page 25 A Transnational Movement......Page 26 Environmentalism as a Science-based Movement......Page 27 An Intersectional Movement......Page 28 The Climate Change Movement......Page 29 Notes......Page 30 Chapter 1: Antecedents: A Wide Arc (prior to 1945)......Page 32 Natural Rights......Page 33 Resistance to Slavery: A Claim about Nature......Page 35 A Question of Sovereignty......Page 36 Reimagining Nature......Page 37 The Piggery Wars and Swill Milk: Urban Public Health Reform......Page 39 Reconstruction and Public Health Reform......Page 40 Growing Interest in Natural Science......Page 41 Conservationism Emerges......Page 42 Campaigns for the Protection of Nature......Page 43 Anti-corporate Populist Agrarianism......Page 44 Transforming Urban Landscapes......Page 45 Theodore Roosevelt: Conservation and Empire......Page 46 The Hetch Hetchy Fight......Page 48 Nature Study and Conservation Reform......Page 49 Progressive Era Women Advocate Reform......Page 50 African American Thought and Conservation Activism......Page 51 Settlement Houses Anchor Urban Reform......Page 53 Ecology: An Emerging Discipline......Page 55 Conservationism and White Racial Advancement......Page 56 The New Deal Era......Page 58 New Conservation Groups......Page 61 Race, Occupational Hazards, and Human Health......Page 62 The pre-World War II Field of Movements......Page 63 Notes......Page 64 Chapter 2: The Great Acceleration and the Postwar Rise of Environmentalism (1945–1962)......Page 70 The Rise of Environmentalism......Page 73 “A Fight for Democracy”......Page 74 International Influences......Page 76 Global Resource Development Strategy......Page 77 Conservationism in Transition......Page 78 Ecology: Science and Activism......Page 80 The Wilderness Movement Grows: Echo Park and Beyond......Page 82 Atomic Activism......Page 85 Citizen Science......Page 88 Nonviolent Direct Action......Page 90 New Understandings of the Ecology of Disease......Page 91 Urban Ecologies......Page 92 DDT Activism: “A Real Health Movement”......Page 93 Rachel Carson......Page 96 Notes......Page 99 Chapter 3: Expanding the Field of Movements (1963–1980)......Page 104 The Wilderness Act of 1964......Page 105 Fighting Pesticides......Page 106 1960s Counterculture Embraces Ecology......Page 109 Theologies for the Earth......Page 111 Responses to Urban Ecological Problems......Page 112 Rural Advocacy......Page 113 A National Environmental Policy......Page 114 Earth Day 1970......Page 115 “Black Ecology”......Page 117 A Fertile Time in Court......Page 119 The Environmental Protection Agency, 1970......Page 121 A New Movement Infrastructure......Page 122 Greenpeace Emerges......Page 125 Cold War Militarization: Native American Tribes Resist......Page 126 “Ecological Agrarianism”......Page 127 Labor and Environmental Reform......Page 128 Deindustrialization Dims Coalition Prospects......Page 130 No Nukes: “A Great Big Time Bomb”......Page 131 Population Growth and Population Control......Page 132 Grassroots Anti-Toxics Campaigns......Page 133 Three Mile Island......Page 136 Notes......Page 138 Chapter 4: The Conservative Countermovement and the Upsurge of Environmental Justice (1980–1990)......Page 144 The Rise of the Conservative Movement......Page 145 Reagan Administration Actions......Page 148 Environmental Activism Swells......Page 149 Environmental Justice......Page 154 Bhopal: Transnational Chemical Disaster......Page 157 Industry’s Response to the Upsurge in Environmentalism......Page 158 Electoral Strategies......Page 162 The Environmental Movement Expands......Page 163 Women’s Environmental Activism and Ecofeminism......Page 165 Environment and Labor......Page 166 Biocentrism and Deep Ecology......Page 168 Animal Protection......Page 169 Radical and Libertarian Environmentalism......Page 170 Religious Environmental Activism......Page 171 The Sustainability Paradigm......Page 172 Oil Disaster......Page 173 Notes......Page 174 Earth Day 1990......Page 179 A New Era of Transnational Activism......Page 180 Obstacles for Environmentalism......Page 182 Market-Based Environmental Reform: The Clean Air Act of 1990......Page 183 The Clinton Administration......Page 185 Free Market Environmentalism or “Green Capitalism”......Page 186 Environmental Justice Surges......Page 188 Environmental Justice and the EPA......Page 191 Nature Preservation Versus Land Justice......Page 194 The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge......Page 196 Rio: The Earth Summit......Page 197 The “Wise Use” Movement......Page 199 Window of Opportunity Closing......Page 200 Tackling Military Toxics......Page 201 Precautionary Action in a Risk Society......Page 202 Media and Environmental Activism......Page 203 Globalization, Direct Action, and the WTO......Page 204 Notes......Page 207 Chapter 6: Intersectional Activism and Climate Justice (2001–present)......Page 212 “A Common Concern of Mankind”......Page 213 Hurricane Katrina Rips Away the Veil......Page 215 Climate Action and Climate Justice......Page 216 Stakeholders Sue EPA to Address Climate Change......Page 218 Climate Justice and the Environmentalism of the Poor......Page 220 Global Climate Action......Page 221 Climate Denialism Forestalls Action......Page 223 Climate Action Efforts Redouble......Page 224 The State of the Movement......Page 229 “Slow Violence” at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina......Page 232 Labor/Environment Alliance Tackles Green Jobs and Toxics Policy......Page 233 Food Justice Activism......Page 234 Intersectional Movements......Page 236 The Trump Era: A “Third War” on Environmentalism......Page 237 The Trump Administration EPA......Page 239 Resistance Erupts......Page 240 Notes......Page 243 Chapter 7: Hope in a Strange Season......Page 251 Regaining the Initiative......Page 253 Strengthening Alliances......Page 254 Notes......Page 256 Bibliography......Page 257 Index......Page 274 Présentation de l'éditeur : "Rethinking the American Environmental Movement post-1945 turns a fresh interpretive lens on the past, drawing on a wide range of new histories of environmental activism to analyze the actions of those who created the movement and those who tried to thwart them. Concentrating on the decades since World War II, environmental historian Ellen Griffith Spears explores environmentalism as a "field of movements" rooted in broader social justice activism. Noting major legislative accomplishments, strengths, and contributions, as well as the divisions within the ranks, the book reveals how new scientific developments, the nuclear threat, and pollution, as well as changes in urban living spurred activism among diverse populations. The book outlines the key precursors, events, participants, and strategies of the environmental movement, and contextualizes the story in the dramatic trajectory of U.S. history after World War II. The result is a synthesis of American environmental politics that one reader called both "ambitious in its scope and concise in its presentation." This book provides a succinct overview of the American environmental movement and is the perfect introduction for students or scholars seeking to understand one of the largest social movements of the twentieth century up through the robust climate movement of today."