The environmental movement is relatively new. People gave little thought to preserving the Earth and nature until the early 1900s.
During the Industrial Revolution, many wilderness areas were developed so mines and factories could be constructed. Eventually, people started
becoming concerned about the rapid pace of development and its effect on the quality of air, water, and farmland. Republican President
Theodore Roosevelt became interested in conserving the environment, and many of his actions led to the current system of
U.S. National Parks.
For the next few decades, most Americans were busy dealing with World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Aside from conserving some land, environmental issues received little attention. It was not until the 1960s when Rachel Carson published "Silent Spring" that the environment became a major issue. Public interest in the environment increased during the 1960s. Republican President Richard Nixon also became concerned about the environment and how it affects the health and safety of American citizens. In response, he founded the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.
From 1970 through the 1990s, environmental awareness grew and became more mainstream. More and more people started donating money to "save the rainforest" and protect endangered species. Recycling efforts spread nationwide and today are virtually everywhere in the United States. Public pressure forced many corporations to change the way they do business, such as fishing companies adopting "dolphin safe" techniques for catching tuna. This was a good time the environmental movement, and many positive changes occurred.
Beginning in the late 1990s, the environmental movement took a decidely liberal turn. Al Gore and the Democratic Party essentially hijacked the environmental movement, and made many people think that if they cared about the environment then they must vote for them. Environmental scare tactics increased, such as making people think they were going to die as a result of "global warming." Sadly, many Republicans have lost interest in the environmental movement. This should not be the case. Republicans are the true founders of the environmental movement, and it is time for them to take it back from the political left!
If you would like to learn more about the environmental movement and how Democrats took it from the Republicans, we suggest reading "How the Left Stole the Environmental Movement."
Click here to buy "How the Left Stole the Environmental Movement"
For the next few decades, most Americans were busy dealing with World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Aside from conserving some land, environmental issues received little attention. It was not until the 1960s when Rachel Carson published "Silent Spring" that the environment became a major issue. Public interest in the environment increased during the 1960s. Republican President Richard Nixon also became concerned about the environment and how it affects the health and safety of American citizens. In response, he founded the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.
From 1970 through the 1990s, environmental awareness grew and became more mainstream. More and more people started donating money to "save the rainforest" and protect endangered species. Recycling efforts spread nationwide and today are virtually everywhere in the United States. Public pressure forced many corporations to change the way they do business, such as fishing companies adopting "dolphin safe" techniques for catching tuna. This was a good time the environmental movement, and many positive changes occurred.
Beginning in the late 1990s, the environmental movement took a decidely liberal turn. Al Gore and the Democratic Party essentially hijacked the environmental movement, and made many people think that if they cared about the environment then they must vote for them. Environmental scare tactics increased, such as making people think they were going to die as a result of "global warming." Sadly, many Republicans have lost interest in the environmental movement. This should not be the case. Republicans are the true founders of the environmental movement, and it is time for them to take it back from the political left!
If you would like to learn more about the environmental movement and how Democrats took it from the Republicans, we suggest reading "How the Left Stole the Environmental Movement."
Click here to buy "How the Left Stole the Environmental Movement"
