S34 SUPPLEMENT 5
arid western states, including Hoover Dam on the
Colorado River (Figure 13-14, p. 327). The goals
were to provide jobs, fl ood control, cheap irriga-
tion water, and cheap electricity for industry.
Congress enacted the Soil Conservation Act
in 1935. It established the Soil Erosion Service
as part of the Department of Agriculture to
correct the enormous erosion problems that
had ruined many farms in the Great Plains
states during the depression, as discussed on
pp. 303–305. Its name was later changed to the
Soil Conservation Service, now called the Natural
Resources Conservation Service. Many environ-
mental historians praise Roosevelt (a Democrat)
for his efforts to get the country out of a major
economic depression and to help restore envi-
ronmentally degraded areas.
Federal resource conservation and pub-
lic health policy during the 1940s and 1950s
changed little, mostly because of preoccupation
with World War II (1941–1945) and economic
recovery after the war.
Between 1930 and 1960, improvements in
public health included establishment of public
health boards and agencies at the munici-
pal, state, and federal levels; increased public
education about health issues; introduction of
vaccination programs; and a sharp reduction in
the incidence of waterborne infectious diseases,
mostly because of improved sanitation and
garbage collection.Figure 4 Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt
(1858–1919) was a writer, explorer, natu-
ralist, avid birdwatcher, and twenty-sixth
president of the United States. He was
the first national political figure to bring
the issues of conservation to the atten-
tion of the American public. According to
many historians, he has contributed more
than any other president to natural re-
source conservation in the United States.Corps (CCC) in 1933. It put 2 million unem-
ployed people to work planting trees and de-
veloping and maintaining parks and recreation
areas. The CCC also restored silted waterways
and built levees and dams for fl ood control.
The government built and operated many
large dams in the Tennessee Valley and in the1930s 1940s 1950s1933 Civilian Conservation Corps established.1935 Soil Conservation Act creates
Soil Erosion Service. Wilderness
Society founded.1937 Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act levies federal
tax on gun and ammunition
sales, with funds used for
wildlife research and protection.
Term greenhouse effect coined
by Professor Glen Trewaha.1938 Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act regulates
consumer foods, drugs,
and cosmetics.1941 Rooftop solar water
heaters widely used
in Florida.
1934 Taylor Grazing Act regulates
livestock grazing on public lands.
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act
requires federal license for duck
hunters, with funds used for waterfowl
refuges. Dust bowl storms begin in Midwest.1940 U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service created
to manage National
Wildlife Refuge
system and protect
endangered species.1947 Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodent-
icide Act regulates use
of pesticides. Everglades
National Park established.
Defenders of Wildlife
founded.1948 Air pollution
disaster at Donora,
Pennsylvania, kills
20 and sickens
7,000 people.1949 Aldo
Leopold’s Sand
County Almanac
published.1954 Atomic Energy Act promotes
development of nuclear power plants.1956 Water Pollution Control Act
provides grants to states for water
treatment plants. 1,000 people
killed in London smog incident.1957 Price-Anderson Act greatly
limits liability of power plant
owners and the government in
cases of a major nuclear power
plant accident.1952 4,000 people die in London killer smog.1950 The Nature Conservancy formed.1930–1960
Figure 5 Some important conservation and environmental events, 1930–1960. Question: Which two of these
events do you think were the most important?
What Happened between
1930 and 1960?
A second wave of national resource conservation
and improvements in public health began in the
early 1930s (Figure 5) as President Franklin D.
Roosevelt (1882–1945) strove to bring the coun-
try out of the Great Depression. He persuaded
Congress to enact federal government programs
to provide jobs and to help restore the country’s
degraded environment.
During this period, the government pur-
chased large tracts of land from cash-poor land-
owners, and established the Civilian Conservation