U.S. environmental policy and politics: a documentary history

Abstract

As citizens address the issues of climate change, earth-friendly technologies, and jumpstarting a green economy, environmental politics has gained a prominent position on the American political landscape. Environmental Policy and Politics: A Documentary History shows readers the many ways throughout American history in which environmental concerns have intersected with issues of energy production and consumption, government regulation, private property rights, economic growth, and lifestyle choices. The primary sources featured in the book illuminate essential events and environmental controversies that have roiled the waters of American politics and policymaking from the colonial era to the twenty-first century. This volume opens with a narrative overview which develops the major environmental themes discussed in the chapters and documents that follow. Each chapter leads with a comprehensive narrative that provides background information necessary for understanding the significance of the primary documents. The wide-ranging document collections include over 150 full and excerpted speeches, writings by conservationists, federal and state legislation, court opinions, testimonies, policy briefs, and more. The documents are preceded by context-setting headnotes which provide information on the key players and events. Some of the topics covered include: population growth and territorial expansion; toxins and waste disposal; air pollution and climate change; wilderness and species protection; energy production; conservation and environmental justice; land and water use; urban development and public health; mining and logging. A timeline listing major events from the colonial era to the present provides an overview of U.S. environmental history, while illustrations and an index further supplement this title. Environmental Policy and Politics is well-suited for collections at academic, community college, and public libraries. It key features: thematic, primary source documents; and, chronological chapters from colonial era to the present. It addresses current concerns about climate change and energy conservation. It tracks the rise of regulatory agencies.