Theodore Roosevelt’s arrival at the White House could not have been better timed. This notoriously progressive president changed the trajectory of the nation by taking forward-looking action at a pivotal time. Taking office at the turn of the 20th century, Roosevelt was faced with a rapidly industrializing country. Railroads zigzagged the nation, transporting people to previously pristine wilderness, and natural resources were being exploited to keep up with rapidly growing demands. By sticking to his progressive mindset of prioritizing the average person as well as future generations, Roosevelt was able to direct the nation towards a more sustainable and environmentally focused path.
Image from GreatOutdoordinary — Roosevelt at Yellowstone National Park
Roosevelt’s passion for environmentalism stemmed from his childhood outdoors. As a kid, he was fascinated by the natural world and the organisms around him, eventually studying Biology at Harvard. He then moved out west to explore the big game scene and consequently established the Boone and Crockett Club, which promoted the “conservation of large game and their grazing habits” (SCU) despite being an avid hunter himself. After his time out west, Roosevelt moved to North Dakota where he spent time herding cattle and tracking down outlaws.
Theodore Roosevelt brought these experiences with him to the White House. As president, Roosevelt established the United States Forest Service and several national parks, personally creating some of the most iconic parks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone. Throughout his term, Roosevelt protected 230 million acres of land through creating 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, and 5 national parks.
Image by Hulton Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty Images — Roosevelt as President
Roosevelt had dual motivations for setting aside land. He wanted to ensure that future generations were able to experience these beautiful places like he had experienced them. But he also wanted to ensure that these resources would continue to be available for human use. He believed that they had even more value than solely their natural beauty. As president, he signed several bills including the Newlands Reclamation Act calling for the construction of dams across the country. Because of this perspective, Roosevelt frequently clashed with naturalist John Muir who believed that nature should be left as pristine as possible.
While Roosevelt was a hunter and advocate for the human use of natural resources, it was his extreme emphasis on the sustainable use of these resources that makes his legacy so impressive. While Muir’s belief that nature should be left pristine is good in theory, it is unrealistic. Roosevelt introduced the nation to the idea of conscientiously interacting with the natural world during a time when people were just beginning to grasp the financial benefits of exploiting the natural resources around them. By setting aside land and creating regulations for its use, Roosevelt solidified this mindset by making concrete changes to ensure the sustainable use of land for years to come.
Sources:
https://www.scu.edu/environmental-ethics/environmental-activists-heroes-and-martyrs/theodore-roosevelt.html
https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/historyculture/theodore-roosevelt-and-conservation.htm
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tr-environment/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodore-Roosevelt
I think that Roosevelt’s passion for the environment and the outdoors is very admirable. Though many presidents are passionate about saving the environment and making it a better place, Roosevelt was one step ahead. His establishment of the United States Forest Service was something remarkable, being that it changed the way that we currently look at the environment. Especially now, more than ever, should we be embodying Roosevelt’s ideals about the environment and what we can do to affect positive change.
Roosevelt’s beliefs and actions are a big part of changing the mentality of thousands of individuals. As you mentioned, people were just beginning to understand the “financial benefits of exploiting the natural resources around them”. If Roosevelt hadn’t protected land through national forests and preserves, we may not have had national parks to visit today. I definitely agree that Roosevelt played a major role in promoting sustainable use of our land.