Charles Bird King and George Catlin traveled west into Native American lands to paint portraits of the indigenous people. Artist during this time were fascinated with Native Americans and their different style of culture. The portraits of Native American chiefs by these two artist share similarities and differences in composition and subject matter. These paintings share a similar subject matter with both of the men being chiefs of their tribe. The artists chose the chief because they are the figurehead of the Native American tribe and lifestyle. The chiefs are both dressed in Native garb and are carry weapons as a show of their strength. These paintings contrasted in their composition by having different mediums and perspectives. “A…
The greatest gains and values are farthest from being appreciated. We easily come to doubt if they exist. We soon forgot them.” (p. 47) Thoreau believed that nature was one of life’s beautiful occurrences that many neglect to appreciate. So did Christopher McCandless. Chris went on his ‘pilgrimage’ that included California, South Dakota, and Alaska among other places, to experience the natural world for himself. He realized that others did not take advantage of the world around them, so he even convinced Ronald Franz to alter his lifestyle to “start seeing some of the great work that God has done here in the American West.” (p. 58)…
unorthodox ways. They emerged themselves into clean and new slates, a sense of solitude. As…
Andrew Carnegie and John Muir both grew up in Scotland and soon after moved to the United States to seek a better life where resources were more plentiful. Carnegie and Muir both had a similarity for not only business, but invention as well. Carnegie and Muir both clearly had the ability to become successful businessmen and their inventions prompted both of their successes. Both of them always had ranging activities and were raring to learn new things. They both shared similar qualities and were very determined in what they did. Carnegie and Muir had a love and passion for writing. They both wrote short stories, articles, and books. Muir and Carnegie wanted to get their point across. They both became one of the most influential individuals…
Both stories portrayed different methods of writing. One writting is very figurative and the other is literal but both very descriptive. Both John Muir and Timothy Severin discribed different places John Muir talk about the Yosemite and Timothy Severin talks about the Gobi Desert. They are very descriptive in the words they are choosing and putting them together perfectly. I enjoyed reading each article because of their unique ways of painting a picture with words.…
During the Progressive Era numerous reforms were made; all of which were part of varying reform movements. Reforms were made to timeless issues such as education, government, and business. However, reforms were also made to new ideas such as conservation. Up until the Progressive Era there was no emphasis placed on conservation because there had always been a surplus of resources in America. During the Progressive Era, on the other hand, resources were being used up exponentially due to factors such as increases in business and immigrants. The idea of conservation is generally attached to Theodore Roosevelt. However, Gifford Pinchot is the man who coined the term conservation and is therefore the true "Father of Conservation".…
There have been many influential people over many decades that have devoted their lives to making our ecosystems and land healthier. The purpose of this report is to inform high school students about one of the most well known environmentalists and naturalists, John Muir. His most famous project was helping to make the Yosemite Grant into Yosemite National Park.…
A hero is a person who greatly influenced others by doing extraordinary deeds. These individuals are selfless, brave and influential. An everyday person can be a hero by achieving amazing feats and changing the world for the better. Heros, Such as John Muir, are we ll respected admired for their leadership and their courageous actions.…
The conservation movement was a controversial topic nationwide. Some people supported it, while others thought it was absurd to take away natural resources that were necessary to live. Regardless, whether you supported the movement or not, it did effect you because of the substantial change it brought to the United States. The conservation movement was founded for a plethora of reasons in order to better the country. The conservation movement was founded because of the questions about who should control the nation’s animal, mineral and timber resources.…
In his critique, “The Trouble with Wilderness or Getting Back to the Wrong Nature,” William Cronon argues against the romantic conceptualization of nature that a great portion of the environmentalist movement has embraced. Subsequently, Cronon revokes the Romantic and even quasi-religious notion that wilderness spaces are separate from those inhabited by man. He argues that by eliminating the divide in perception between the human constructs of the natural world and the civilized world, man will be encouraged to take more responsibility for his actions that negatively impact the environment. In prefacing his conclusion, he writes, “Home, after all, is the place where finally we make our living. It is the place for which we take responsibility,…
It is difficult to find writers more passionate about the natural environment than John Muir and Edward Abbey. Both Muir in a section from his book A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf and Abbey in a chapter titled Polemic: Industrial Tourism and the National Parks channel anger and frustration at the environmental policies of their time into literature that argues fervently for preservation of national parks and other areas of wilderness. In Hetch Hetchy Valley, Muir reverently describes in vivid detail the beautiful landscape of a river valley in Yosemite called the Hetch Hetchy Valley, condemning anyone who supports a government plan to dam the Hetch Hetchy River and flood the valley. In a famous quote Muir says, “no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man” (Muir 112). Abbey employs a highly sarcastic and satirical tone to outline the consequences of further expansion of roads and highways into national parks. He aims to incite anger with sharp language and insults to draw the reader in emotionally. “This is a courageous view, admirable in its simplicity and power… It is also quite insane” (Abbey 422). Both pieces easily stand alone, but when looked at together they suggest even more strongly that it is deceptive and dishonest to advertise industrialization of wilderness as any kind of favorable progress for society. This “progress” does not actually benefit anyone. Those who proclaim this as their reason for supporting industrial development are more likely motivated by the short-term economic benefits they will receive.…
With equal fervor Pinchot set to work. In the next two decades he raised forestry and conservation of all our natural resources from an unknown experiment to a nationwide movement. He became head of the Division of Forestry in 1898 and under President Theodore Roosevelt was named Chief Forester of the redefined U.S. Forest Service. National forest management was guided by Pinchot's principle, "the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run." His magnetic personal leadership inspired and ignited the new organization.…
T.H. Watkins argues that the movement did preserve the environment because of Gifford Pinchot’s role with the forest. Watkins states, “President Roosevelt would establish the first federal wildlife refuge” (158), and the forest will be handed to Pinchot’s care. He became the first the nation’s first chief forester and divided land with rangers in charge of each land to make sure laws were followed. Watkins states, “Individual forests were divided up into management units, each with its own ranger or ranger force, and administrative headquarters were established” (159). Roosevelt and Pinchot’s efforts made a huge difference in the forests…
Aldo Leopold, in his essay collection A Sand County Almanac explores the natural world, and the symbiotic relationship that’s shared between plant and animal, while also insinuating how humans live in opposition to that fragile synchrony, for we live to reshape our environment for contemporary gains. Leopold is able to write the essay as an ecological historian, who’s knowledge comes from the topography of the Wisconsin landscape, the rings of an Oak tree, or a single atom entombed in a limestone ledge. The first two sections of the book gravitate around two opposing forces conservation and modern progress (scientific advancement, economical growth.…
This was an initial step in the right direction but lacked clear objectives. Another issue with forest lands was in the increasing amount of private lands to which could not be protected under the president’s authority. It wouldn’t be until the 1930’s that we actually see policy emerge with emphasis on the management of forests. In the 1920’s Aldo Leopold began pushing for wilderness conservation. As a member of the U.S. Forest service Leopold successful designated the first wilderness area, the Gila National Forest (aldoleopold.org 2000). This would set precedent for future acts involving forest lands through means of passing policy through legislation. Howard Zahniser was a new conservationist who worked with the Wilderness Society. In 1956, Zahniser successfully thwarted the government’s plan of constructing a dam on Echo Park, a National Park (Harvey 2005). The defense of this National Park had united conversationalists and given them a sense of triumph. It was this victory that inspired Zahniser to begin working on a major campaign that would turn into the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Harvey 2005). He would be the force behind the…