To Save the Land and People : A History of Opposition to Surface Coal Mining in Appalachia

Surface coal mining has had a dramatic impact on the Appalachian economy and ecology since World War II, exacerbating the region's chronic unemployment and destroying much of its natural environment. Here, Chad Montrie examines the twentieth-century movement to outlaw surface mining in Appalachia, tracing popular opposition to the industry from its inception through the growth of a militant movement that engaged in acts of civil disobedience and industrial sabotage. Both comprehensive and comparative, To Save the Land and People chronicles the story of surface mining opposition in the whole region, from Pennsylvania to Alabama. Though many accounts of environmental activism focus on middle-class suburbanites and emphasize national events, the campaign to abolish strip mining was primarily a movement of farmers and working people, originating at the local and state levels. Its history underscores the significant role of common people and grassroots efforts in the American environmental movement. This book also contributes to a long-running debate about American values by revealing how veneration for small, private properties has shaped the political consciousness of strip mining opponents. Surface Coal Mining Has Had A Dramatic Impact On The Appalachian Economy And Ecology Since World War Ii, Exacerbating The Region's Chronic Unemployment And Destroying Much Of Its Natural Environment. Here, Chad Montrie Examines The Twentieth-century Movement To Outlaw Surface Mining In Appalachia, Tracing Popular Opposition To The Industry From Its Inception Through The Growth Of A Militant Movement That Engaged In Acts Of Civil Disobedience And Industrial Sabotage. To Save The Land And People Chronicles The Story Of Surface Mining Opposition In The Whole Region, From Pennsylvania To Alabama. Though Many Accounts Of Environmental Activism Focus On Middle-class Suburbanites And Emphasize National Events, The Campaign To Abolish Strip Mining Was Primarily A Movement Of Farmers And Working People, Originating At The Local And State Levels. Its History Underscores The Significant Role Of Common People And Grassroots Efforts In The American Environmental Movement. This Book Also Contributes To A Long-running Debate About American Values By Revealing How Veneration For Small, Private Properties Has Shaped The Political Consciousness Of Strip Mining Opponents. Introduction: Common People And Private Property -- Making, Taking, And Stripping The Land -- Our Country Would Be Better Fit For Farming: Opposition To Surface Coal Mining In Ohio -- Selfish Interests: Opposition To Surface Coal Mining In Pennsylvania -- We Feel We Have Been Forsaken: Opposition To Surface Coal Mining In Kentucky, 1954-1967 -- We Will Stop The Bulldozers: Opposition To Surface Coal Mining In Kentucky, 1967-1972 -- The Dilemma Is A Classic One: Opposition To Surface Coal Mining In West Virginia -- Liberty In A Wasteland Is Meaningless: Strip Mining Opposition At The Federal Level, 1968-1972 -- Getting More And More Cynical: Decline Of The Opposition, 1973-1977 -- Against The Little Man Like Me: Legalized Destruction In The Smcra Era -- Conclusion: Having To Fight The Whole System. Chad Montrie. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-240) And Index. This text charts the people's movement to ban strip mining in Appalachia, tracing popular opposition to the industry from its inception through the growth of a militant movement engaging in acts of sabotage. It highlights the role of farmers and working people in this movement The Appalachian Mountains derive their name from the Apalachhe, a group of North American aboriginal people who once inhabited present-day northern Florida and southern Georgia.