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America, during the 1790s, was a predominantly rural country and dependent on the agricultural industry. At this point in time the Northern section of America was the only part that was, in any way, leaning towards an industrialized future. These port cities, that had developed the most, had changed the environment from its original form and began the battle between man and nature.

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The United States had now begun expanding further west at this point in time. With Manifest Destiny in full effect the American population had no second thoughts on forcefully pushing the living inhabitants from their land. Animals that played an important role in the environment were now gone and new technology that was not there prior had appeared.

As industrialization progressed in the North, the environment underwent significant changes due to deforestation, pollution, and the spread of urbanization. Similarly, as the United States expanded westward, it led to the displacement and loss of land for indigenous populations and the extinction of certain animal species due to overhunting and habitat destruction. The combination of these two processes led to significant changes in the natural environment of America, highlighting the complex relationship between humans and nature.

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America had now entered the Market Revolution. Transportation was developing at high rates and factories developed just as fast. Steamboats, canals, and roads are all improved and implemented throughout settled sections of America. Near the end of the Market Revolution, railroads had been implemented as well. Factories, a major contributor to environmental distress, had also grown larger.

The westward expansion period saw the introduction of new technologies like steamboats and railroads that facilitated transportation and trade. Similarly, during the Market Revolution, transportation and communication technologies like canals, roads, and later railroads were developed, leading to the growth of factories and industries. These technological advancements had significant environmental impacts as they led to deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction. Additionally, the displacement of indigenous populations during westward expansion and the exploitation of labor during the Market Revolution further contributed to environmental distress. Overall, both periods were marked by significant technological advancements that had far-reaching consequences for the natural environment of America.

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One of the first actions ADVOCATING for environmental protection had appeared this year. Yellowstone National Park had been created as an attempt to protect the rapid disappearance of natural land. John Muir, one of the first Environmentalists, was a very important advocate for the conservation of wildlife and land.

The rapid industrial growth during the Market Revolution had significant environmental consequences, including pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction. These environmental problems led to increased awareness of the need for conservation and the protection of natural resources. The creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 marked a significant moment in the history of environmental conservation, as it was the first national park in the world created to protect natural landscapes and wildlife. John Muir, one of the earliest and most influential environmentalists, was a vocal advocate for the conservation of wilderness areas and the protection of wildlife. Overall, the creation of Yellowstone National Park and the advocacy for environmental protection marked a turning point in American attitudes towards conservation and the environment.

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U.S Census Bureau Report that declared after centuries of settlement and development the American Frontier had disappeared. Public concern about famine sparked the formation of government agencies to regulate and conserve the nations land, wood, and water.

Yellowstone National Park and the advocacy of environmentalists like John Muir reflected a growing recognition of the need to protect the natural environment from human exploitation. Also the formation of government agencies to regulate natural resources and prevent famine demonstrated a growing concern for the conservation of natural resources. Overall, both periods represent important milestones in the history of environmental protection in America.

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The Gilded Age brought new industrial breakthroughs to come into fruition. Due to the Civil War, industrial development was stimulated. Some examples of this are railroad cars, light bulb, telephone, Bessemer steel production, and the elevator. Cities became more prominent but also caused a higher amount of Environmental distress.

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Congress created the US Forest Service. The federal government retained 200 million acres of national forests to be managed under tenets of what became known as utilitarian conservation: the use of natural resources wisely.

The Gilded Age saw significant industrial breakthroughs, which led to the growth of cities and the environmental distress associated with it. However, the creation of the US Forest Service represented an attempt to balance economic growth with environmental protection by promoting the wise use of natural resources. This reflects a growing recognition of the need for environmental protection during a period of rapid economic growth, highlighting the tension between economic development and environmental sustainability.

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The United States has now entered the first World War. During this period of time, more industrial needs became apparent. Things such as weapons and basic commodities were needed and became heavily manufactured in factories. The war, in itself, destroyed land thoroughly, which in turn, damaged the environment heavily.

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National Park Service, to protect and manage an ever growing number of parks and monuments

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“Prosperity decade” saw economic growth and urbanization with little regard for the environment. FDR new deal funded dams, buildings, bridges, and recreational facilities that helped economy but damaged environment

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One of America’s greatest environmental catastrophes was the Dust Bowl. The Great Depression affected the agricultural industry by large margins. Due to the struggle, many farmers began bad agricultural practices. These in turn, led to extremely dry soil. Strong winds caused great dust storms and left the south in devastation. This caused Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act in an attempt to restore some of the lost land but only so that land could eventually be farmed again.

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WW2 left a legacy of environmental consequences nationwide. Many of the new industries, however, came with a severe environmental cost, contaminating water, air, and soil with a new generation of non-biodegradable toxic materials. DDT: stopped spread of epidemics but was toxic to birds and other wildlife

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American society was now falling into a more suburban way of life. As a result of this, the Federal-Aid Highway Act had passed. The United States, essentially, became smaller as you could travel across the nation much faster. This alongside the Age of the Automobile meant that more air pollution would become more prominent. Everyone had a car and everyone was using it.

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Environmentalism entered mainstream as one of many issues prompting activism. Dozens of new organizations sprang up that were devoted to protecting the environment Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth: allowed Americans to become Nicole end with the environmental movement

The rise of suburbanization and the automobile industry led to increased environmental distress, prompting the emergence of environmental activism and the formation of organizations dedicated to protecting the environment. This reflects a growing recognition of the need for environmental protection during a period of rapid social and technological change, highlighting the tension between economic development and environmental sustainability.

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Silent Spring: a critical look at pollution in the United States, jump-starts the environmental movement. Carson, a birdwatcher, discovered that heavy use of pesticides was killing off birds and making the forests 'silent.' She also wrote about harmful chemicals used for defoliation in the Vietnam War.

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Fire on Cuyahoga River, Cuyahoga River in Ohio becomes so polluted that it catches on fire. The fire helped spur an avalanche of water pollution control activities such as the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

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Environmental degradation resulted in legislation: National Environmental Policy Act (1970): new “look before leap" approach to require  developments on public land undergo a thorough environmental review process. EPA: administer and enforce environmental legislation as the clean air act of 1970, clean water act of 1972, and endangered species act of 1973 set national air quality, auto emission, and anti-pollution standards. The standards led to the production of the catalytic converter in 1973 by New Jersey's Engelhard Corporation. In its first 20 years, the Clean Air Act prevented more than 200,000 premature deaths by significantly reducing the presence of lead, sulfur dioxide and other harmful pollutants in the air

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First Earth Day!! More than 20 million Americans participate in one of the largest grassroots community service movements in our history. Earth Day is now celebrated every year by almost 1 billion people worldwide

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Sierra Club: used new laws to challenge development of all kinds across the US. Conform new set of environmental standards that precluded destruction of natural ecosystems often as financial costs Environmentalists enjoyed growing popular support after several high-profile environmental disasters, like the Santa Barbara oil spill and Love Canal, grabbed national headlines.

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nationwide attention with the Three Mile Island accident, convincing many Americans that the danger of nuclear power far outweighed its benefits.

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President Jimmy Carter commissioned a committee to report on the projected state of the planet in the year 2000. The committee's report, Global 2000, predicted a severe resource crisis and massive overpopulation across the globe, sparking further alarm among Americans.

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Reagan's presidency actually solidified environmentalism as a major force in American Politics as conservative efforts to roll back existing legislation met with organized opposition from political action committees.

Carter's commissioning of the Global 2000 report reflects a growing recognition of the need for environmental protection in the face of global challenges, while Reagan's presidency represents a political challenge to existing environmental legislation. However, organized opposition to these challenges highlights the growing importance of environmentalism as a political force, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for environmental protection in the face of global challenges.

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environmental movement bad become an amalgam of utilitarian conservation and preservation. Phenomena like the ozone layer hole, global warming, and acid rain achieved international prominence as scientific data pointed to their long-term environmental impact. Private businesses were held to account for their impact on the environment. Events such as the tragic Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989 was impactful.

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Environmental Justice. President Clinton issues an executive order that all federal agencies prioritize environmental justice for minorities and low-income populations. In 1992, an EPA report revealed that those populations were exposed more than others to air pollution and other environmental hazards.

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Teddy Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to save the Grand Canyon in 1908, President Clinton uses the same law to create Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, an area north of the Grand Canyon threatened with mining.

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USDA creates the National Organic Program, regulating organic food production.This program established uniform standards for the certification of organic foods and created a set of regulations that producers must follow to be certified as organic. The NOP provides consumers with a clear definition of what organic food means and ensures that producers are following strict guidelines to meet the requirements for organic certification. This program has been instrumental in the growth of the organic food industry, allowing consumers to make informed choices about the food they eat while also supporting sustainable agriculture practices.

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The Bush administration wins a court victory on mountaintop removal mining that allows “spoils” to be dumped into streams. Next Bush proposes “Clear Skies” legislation to weaken targets for pollutants from power plants. Senator Inhofe passes an amendment rolling back New Source Review. However, 12 eastern states won a court injunction blocking Bush from weakening clean air laws.

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In President Obama’s first year, auto mileage standards are raised 10 mpg to 35.5 mpg; EPA rules six greenhouse gasses are a danger to the public and should be regulated; and the largest wilderness bill in 15 years sets aside 2 million acres. The G-8 industrial nations agree to cut greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, a prelude to COP15. But in Copenhagen, climate negotiations collapse. The U.S. offers to cut emissions less than expected and China seizes on the resulting gridlock as an opportunity to walk out.

During the Bush administration, there were victories for mountaintop removal mining and attempts to weaken clean air laws. However, during Obama's presidency, there were significant steps taken to combat climate change, such as raising auto mileage standards and regulating greenhouse gases. Despite this progress, negotiations at the Copenhagen climate summit collapsed due to disagreements between the U.S. and China on emissions reductions.

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On March 31, President Obama proposes an Offshore Drilling Plan which will open vast expanses along the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and north coast of Alaska. Less than three weeks later, disaster strikes: BP’s Macondo oil well, being drilled by the Deepwater Horizon, explodes. Over 200 million gallons of crude oil leak out in the next five months, devastating coastlines from Louisiana to Florida.

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Sierra Club launches the year with the biggest climate action rally yet. Carbon trading begins in California. Nuclear power plants begin to close around the U.S.: Crystal River in Florida, declared “inoperable”; San Onofre, due to “expensive repair bills”; Kewaunee in Wisconsin; and Zion near Chicago. Electric utilities using coal go bankrupt, undercut by fracked natural gas. EPA finally moves to issue regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants.

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COP26: the United States and the European Union launched the Global Methane Pledge to reduce 2020 levels of anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. The United States is also leading the effort to reduce emissions of methane — a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than CO2.

The Sierra Club holds a large climate action rally, while California introduces carbon trading. Multiple nuclear power plants in the US shut down, and coal-burning electric utilities face bankruptcy as natural gas becomes more prevalent. The EPA begins to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. In more recent times, the US and the EU launched the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, and the US is taking the lead in this effort.