AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
History 4475/5475
Autumn Term, 2006
Instructor: Dr. Phil Roberts Time: W, 3:10-5:40 p.m. Classroom: History 156
Office Hours: Tues., Wed., 10:30-noon; and by appointment
Office: 356 History Bldg., 766-5311 or 5101 E-mail address: philr@uwyo.edu
Course Objective: While this course is designed to explore the history of environmental issues in America since the colonial period and the changing attitudes toward the environment, we will be doing that and somewhat more this semester. Rather than limiting our considerations to environmental issues only in America, we will be utilizing a much wider “comparative” approach to various topics in environmental history. Through this comparative approach, we will study how issues of environmentalism in America have a place in the wider world context. In this respect, the course will consider at least three themes. It will consider how people have thought about nature and the relationship between humans and nature. How does the American body of thought about nature fit into the broader world context? How have these ideas changed over time? Why have these changes occurred? Second, the course will consider the history of human impact on the environment. In the wider world context, how has America changed as a result of agricultural practices, growth of industry, and mineral extraction? The third theme is how the landscape and attitudes may combine to shape natural resource policy, depending on the time period being considered and the geographical, cultural, political, and economic forces within a particular country.
Course Requirements:
Environmental history is dynamic and the issues of yesterday often appear as current events. Consequently, students are urged to read their local newspaper(s) in order to keep abreast of the latest environmental issues affecting the community/state/nation. As we continue through the semester, considerable attention will be paid to these “current events” and their relationships to historical questions and issues. Students should be prepared to participate in such discussions in a meaningful way. Assignments, based on extending some of the ideas in the common readings, will be made periodically, but students should be prepared to discuss the common readings on a regular basis. Frequent references may be made to readings available on websites, in newspapers and periodicals, scholarly journals as well as from new books in the field. Specific individual assignments will be made throughout the semester, beyond the common readings.
Individually-Assigned Books/Journal Articles:
Each student will be prepared to discuss the common readings during the first seven class meetings. In addition to the common readings, from Oct. 18-Dec. 6, students will read and provide written and oral reports on a total of three individually assigned books and two scholarly articles. Recitations are expected for the session during which the topic is discussed. The professor will make the individual assignments, but students are encouraged to bring his attention to new works worthy of consideration for this class or for library purchase. Written reviews of the books and articles will be no longer than three pages per review typed, double-spaced and due on the last day of class. Book assignments for the first category (to be discussed on Oct. 18) will be made early in the semester. Others will be made periodically at the instructor’s discretion, providing sufficient time for students to obtain the book/article and have it read for class. The instructor will attempt to balance length, analytical challenge, and content among students in the interest of fairness.
Research Paper: This 12-15 page (double-spaced, typed) paper will be due on the last class meeting of the semester. The student will choose a particular sub-topic that is capable of being treated comparatively, either across countries or over time. More details will be provided as the semester proceeds.
Required Texts:
The Natural West: Environmental History in the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. By Dan Flores. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001).
The Unending Frontier: An Environmental History of the Early Modern World. By John F. Richards. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005).
The State and Nature: Voices Heard, Voices Unheard in America’s Environmental Dialogue. Edited by Jeanne Nienaber Clarke and Hanna J. Cortner. (Prentice-Hall, 2002). ISBN: 0-13-028908-6.
For Additional Reading: A wide variety of works are available in the general field of environmental history. For broad overview in a narrative form, a number of other books are available if you wish to explore the general topic on your own. Three compilations of articles of relevance to American environmental history are: Carolyn Merchant, Major Problems in American Environmental History (Houghton Mifflin); the "old reliable"--a now quite dated general history titled American Environmental History, by Roderick Nash; and Louis Warren, American Environmental History (Blackwells).
Exams and Grades: Two exams, one mid-term and one final, is scheduled. The course grade will be calculated in the following fashion: mid-term exam, 20 percent; final exam, 30 percent; historical research paper, 30 percent; reviews, 30 percent; class participation, 10 percent.
Graduate Student Requirements: Graduate students will be assigned three additional books to read in addition to the regularly-assigned materials. Thus, each graduate student will read six books and three articles, each individually assigned, for this course. Also, the length of the research paper will be greater for graduate students. In most cases, for graduate students, it will be essential to utilize primary sources, either those held in the American Heritage Center or elsewhere. Graduate students may meet at least once during the semester beyond the scheduled meetings. When considering a topic for this paper, graduate students should keep in mind the possibility of eventual publication.
Aug. 30: Introduction
Sept. 6: The Global Context. Reading: Richards, pp. 17-85.
Sept. 13: Varying Views of the Environment in the Early Modern Period in Eurasia and Africa. Reading: Richards, 89-306.
Sept. 20: Environmental Issues in Early America. Reading: Clarke & Cortner, pp. 5-47; Richards, pp. 309-516
Sept. 27: Furs, Fish and Whales in Comparative Perspective. Reading: Richards, pp. 517-616
Oct. 4: “Go West.” Reading: Clarke & Cortner, pp. 49-86.
Oct. 11: The Rocky Mountain Environment. Reading: Flores, All.
Oct. 18: Issues of Land and Water: Public Lands, Reclamation, Water. Beginning of recitations from individually assigned readings.
Oct. 25: National Parks and Forests: America and the World. Reading: Clarke and Cortner, pp. 88-139. Recitations from individually assigned readings.
Nov. 1: Oil, Minerals and the Environment. Recitations. .
Nov. 15: Environmental Debates in the Post-World War II World. Reading: Clarke and Cortner, pp. 224-353; Rachel Carson videotape.
Nov. 22: NO CLASS. Thanksgiving Break.
Nov. 29: Environmental Issues in Late 20th Century Europe, Middle East, Africa. Recitations.
Dec. 6: Local Environmental Issues: Wyoming's Economic Development and Environmental Preservation; review for final exam.
Finals Week: Final Exam, Date TBA.