History 391 Syllabus

Syllabus

Wednesday,
January 13 Introduction

Monday,
January 18 TOPIC: WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY? WHAT IS NATURE?
Cronon, "Beginnings, Introduction: In Search of
Nature," and "Unnatural Nature," in Uncommon Ground,
pp. 23-66

Wednesday,
January 20 TOPIC: WILL THE REAL CONQUISTADOR PLEASE STAND UP?
REVIEW ESSAY DUE: Alfred Crosby, Columbian Exchange

Monday,
January 25 TOPIC: SEND US "REAL" FOOD
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History,
pp. 34-40: "A Spanish Explorer Views the Pueblos,
1580," "Spanish Explorers Observe Pueblo Irrigation,
1582," "A Spaniard Testifies on the Effects of Pueblo
Colonization, 1601"

TOPIC: "A FAIRE VIRGIN...IN A NUPTIAL BED"
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History,
pp. 65-77: "William Bradford Faces a 'Hideous and
Desolate Wilderness," "John Winthrop Quotes Genesis on
Subduing the Earth, 1629," "Thomas Morton Praises
the New England Canaan, 1632," "William Wood on
Indian Women's Housing and Horticulture," Roger
Williams on Indian Uses of the Forest, 1643,"
"A Timber Merchant's Estate, 1682," "A Governor
Enforces the King's Forest Policy, 1730."

Wednesday,
January 27 TOPIC: COMMODIFICATION OF THE LANDSCAPE
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental
History, pp.83-92 and pp. 152-157: Samuel F. Manning, "A
Colonist's Perspective on the New England Environment,"
and Charles F. Carroll, "A Forest's Perspective on
Ecological Transformation," and William Cronon, "Land
for Market's."

Monday,
February 1 REVIEW ESSAY DUE: A New Face on the Countryside

Wednesday,
February 3 TOPIC: THE AGRARIAN IDEAL
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History,
pp.141-148: "Thomas Jefferson on the Agrarian Ideal,
1787," "Benjamin Rush Praises the Market Farmers of
Pennsylvania, 1789," "Edward Slater's Account
Book, 1807-1812," Anna Howell's Farm Diary, 1820,"

Monday,
February 8 TOPIC: COTTON KINGDOM
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History,
pp. 215-233: "A Georgia Planter Tells Why Cotton Pays,
1847," "Frederick Law Olmstead Describes Cotton
Production and Environmental Deterioration, 1861,"
"Sharecroppers' Contracts," "A Louisiana Convention
Declares War on the Boll Weevil, 1903," "Ex-Slaves
Describe Their Means and Subsistence, 1937."

Wednesday,
February 10 TOPIC: NATURE AS REFUGE
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental
History, pp.191-207; pp.212-215: "Frances Anne Kemble
on Slavery and Nature in Georgia, 1838." Michael
Heiman, "Civilization over Nature," and Annette Kolodny,
"Nature, Civilization, and Gender."

Monday,
February 15 TOPIC: NATURE AS BOUNDLESS
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History,
pp.172-189: "James Audubon on Shooting Birds, 1808-
1834," "James Fenimore Cooper Laments the 'Wasty Ways'
of Pioneers, 1823," George Catlin on Indians, Nature,
and Civilization, 1844," "Henry David Thoreau on Nature
versus Civilization, 1854."

Wednesday,
February 17 TOPIC: CONSERVATION
Merchant, Problems in Environmental
History, pp.340-348: "George Perkins Marsh on Man and
Nature, 1864," "John Wesley Powell Advocates
Reclamation, 1878," "Frederick Jackson Turner on the
Significance of the Frontier in American History,
1893," "The Reclamation Act, 1902."

Monday,
February 22 TOPIC: TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S CONSERVATION AGENDA
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History,
pp.350-366, "Theodore Roosevelt Publicizes
Conservation, 1908," "George L. Knapp Opposes
Conservation, 1910," "George L. Knapp Opposes
Conservation, 1910," "Mrs. Crocker on the Conservation
Imperative, 1912," in; Samuel Hays, "Conservation as
Efficiency."

Wednesday,
February 24 TOPIC: PRESERVATION VS. CONSERVATION
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History,
pp. 384-409: "Frederick Law Olmstead on the Value of
Parks, 1865," "Isabella Bird Describes Nature in the
Rockies, 1873," "Florence Merriam Bailey on the Early
Audubon Women, 1900," "Mary Austin on the Wonders of
the Desert, 1903," "John Muir Advocates Wilderness
Preservation, 1912," "The National Parks Act, 1916" Wilderness, Recorded in 1933," Roderick Nash, "The
Value of Wilderness."

Monday,
March 1 CONSERVATION
Carl Moneyhon, "Conservation as Politics,"
Alfred Runte, "Railroads Value Wilderness."

Wednesday,
March 3 MID-TERM EXAMINATION

March 8-12
Spring Break

Monday,
March 15 TOPIC: THE AGRARIAN IDEAL REEVALUATED
Film: The Grapes of Wrath

Wednesday,
March 17 Film: The Grapes of Wrath

Monday,
March 22 REVIEW ESSAY DUE, The Dust Bowl

Wednesday,
March 24 TOPIC: FDR'S CONSERVATION AGENDA
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental
History, pp.347-348, 366-382: "The Reclamation Act,
1902," Marc Reisner, "Conservation as Reclamation,"
Carolyn Merchant, "Women and Conservation."

Monday,
March 29 TOPIC: ECOLOGY
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental
History, pp.461-479; Robert Clark, "Ellen Swallow's
Human Ecology," Donald Worster, "Organic, Economic, and
Chaotic Ecology,"
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental
History, pp.448-449, 459-460, 454-458
"Henry Gleason on Plant Associations, 1926,"
"Pickett and White on Patch Dynamics, 1985,"
"Aldo Leopold Proposes a Land Ethnic, 1949."

Wednesday,
March 31 TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL AWAKENING
Film: Silent Spring
Merchant, Major Problems in American Environmental
History, pp.498-500, 511-516; "The National
Environmental Policy Act, 1969, "Jack Lewis, "From
Laissez-Faire to Environmental Legislation,"

Monday,
April 5 REVIEW ESSAY DUE: Silent Spring

Wednesday,
April 7 TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
Cronon, Uncommon Ground, pp.298-321,171-185; Giovana
Di Chiro, "Nature as Community: the Convergence of
Environmental Justice and Social Justice"
Handout: Robert D. Bullard, "Anatomy of Environmental
Racism."

Monday,
April 12 TOPIC: NATURE AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT
Cronon, Uncommon Ground, pp.171-185; 69-90:
Richard White, "Are You An Environmentalist or Do
You Work For a Living?" William Cronon, "The Trouble
with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature."

Wednesday,
April 14 TOPIC: NURTURE VS. NATURE
William Cronon vs. James Conaway
Handout: James Conaway, "Nurture vs. Nature."

Monday,
April 19 TOPIC: REVISING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
Merchant, Problems in American Environmental
History, pp.524-526, 547-559: "A Federal Director
Discusses Environmental Risk, 1983"
Theodore Goldfarb, "Environmental Legislation,"
Daniel Faber and James O'Connor, "Environmental
Politics."

Wednesday,
April 21 TOPIC: THE MACHINE IN THE GARDEN
REVIEW ESSAY DUE: The Organic Machine

Monday,
April 26 TOPIC: THE MACHINE IN THE GARDEN continued
Discussion of The Organic Machine

Wednesday,
April 28 TOPIC: NATURE AS A HUMAN IDEA
Cronon, Uncommon Ground, pp.186-217;
Jennifer Price, "Looking for Nature at the Mall:
A Field Guide to the Nature Company," Susan G.
Davies, "Touch the Magic."
Distribute Final Examination Essay Questions
Take-Home Final Examination
(Return Essay Questions)

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Wednesday, January 13	Introduction
Monday, January 18	TOPIC: WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY? WHAT IS NATURE? Cronon, "Beginnings, Introduction: In Search of Nature," and "Unnatural Nature," in Uncommon Ground, pp. 23-66
Wednesday, January 20	TOPIC: WILL THE REAL CONQUISTADOR PLEASE STAND UP? REVIEW ESSAY DUE: Alfred Crosby, Columbian Exchange
Monday, January 25	TOPIC: SEND US "REAL" FOOD Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp. 34-40: "A Spanish Explorer Views the Pueblos, 1580," "Spanish Explorers Observe Pueblo Irrigation, 1582," "A Spaniard Testifies on the Effects of Pueblo Colonization, 1601"
	TOPIC: "A FAIRE VIRGIN...IN A NUPTIAL BED" Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp. 65-77: "William Bradford Faces a 'Hideous and Desolate Wilderness," "John Winthrop Quotes Genesis on Subduing the Earth, 1629," "Thomas Morton Praises the New England Canaan, 1632," "William Wood on Indian Women's Housing and Horticulture," Roger Williams on Indian Uses of the Forest, 1643," "A Timber Merchant's Estate, 1682," "A Governor Enforces the King's Forest Policy, 1730."
Wednesday, January 27	TOPIC: COMMODIFICATION OF THE LANDSCAPE Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.83-92 and pp. 152-157: Samuel F. Manning, "A Colonist's Perspective on the New England Environment," and Charles F. Carroll, "A Forest's Perspective on Ecological Transformation," and William Cronon, "Land for Market's."
Monday, February 1	REVIEW ESSAY DUE: A New Face on the Countryside
Wednesday, February 3	TOPIC: THE AGRARIAN IDEAL Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.141-148: "Thomas Jefferson on the Agrarian Ideal, 1787," "Benjamin Rush Praises the Market Farmers of Pennsylvania, 1789," "Edward Slater's Account Book, 1807-1812," Anna Howell's Farm Diary, 1820,"
Monday, February 8	TOPIC: COTTON KINGDOM Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp. 215-233: "A Georgia Planter Tells Why Cotton Pays, 1847," "Frederick Law Olmstead Describes Cotton Production and Environmental Deterioration, 1861," "Sharecroppers' Contracts," "A Louisiana Convention Declares War on the Boll Weevil, 1903," "Ex-Slaves Describe Their Means and Subsistence, 1937."
Wednesday, February 10	TOPIC: NATURE AS REFUGE Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.191-207; pp.212-215: "Frances Anne Kemble on Slavery and Nature in Georgia, 1838." Michael Heiman, "Civilization over Nature," and Annette Kolodny, "Nature, Civilization, and Gender."
Monday, February 15	TOPIC: NATURE AS BOUNDLESS Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.172-189: "James Audubon on Shooting Birds, 1808- 1834," "James Fenimore Cooper Laments the 'Wasty Ways' of Pioneers, 1823," George Catlin on Indians, Nature, and Civilization, 1844," "Henry David Thoreau on Nature versus Civilization, 1854."
Wednesday, February 17	TOPIC: CONSERVATION Merchant, Problems in Environmental History, pp.340-348: "George Perkins Marsh on Man and Nature, 1864," "John Wesley Powell Advocates Reclamation, 1878," "Frederick Jackson Turner on the Significance of the Frontier in American History, 1893," "The Reclamation Act, 1902."
Monday, February 22	TOPIC: TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S CONSERVATION AGENDA Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.350-366, "Theodore Roosevelt Publicizes Conservation, 1908," "George L. Knapp Opposes Conservation, 1910," "George L. Knapp Opposes Conservation, 1910," "Mrs. Crocker on the Conservation Imperative, 1912," in; Samuel Hays, "Conservation as Efficiency."
Wednesday, February 24	TOPIC: PRESERVATION VS. CONSERVATION Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp. 384-409: "Frederick Law Olmstead on the Value of Parks, 1865," "Isabella Bird Describes Nature in the Rockies, 1873," "Florence Merriam Bailey on the Early Audubon Women, 1900," "Mary Austin on the Wonders of the Desert, 1903," "John Muir Advocates Wilderness Preservation, 1912," "The National Parks Act, 1916" Wilderness, Recorded in 1933," Roderick Nash, "The Value of Wilderness."
Monday, March 1	CONSERVATION Carl Moneyhon, "Conservation as Politics," Alfred Runte, "Railroads Value Wilderness."
Wednesday, March 3	MID-TERM EXAMINATION
March 8-12	Spring Break
Monday, March 15	TOPIC: THE AGRARIAN IDEAL REEVALUATED Film: The Grapes of Wrath
Wednesday, March 17	Film: The Grapes of Wrath
Monday, March 22	REVIEW ESSAY DUE, The Dust Bowl
Wednesday, March 24	TOPIC: FDR'S CONSERVATION AGENDA Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.347-348, 366-382: "The Reclamation Act, 1902," Marc Reisner, "Conservation as Reclamation," Carolyn Merchant, "Women and Conservation."
Monday, March 29	TOPIC: ECOLOGY Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.461-479; Robert Clark, "Ellen Swallow's Human Ecology," Donald Worster, "Organic, Economic, and Chaotic Ecology," Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.448-449, 459-460, 454-458 "Henry Gleason on Plant Associations, 1926," "Pickett and White on Patch Dynamics, 1985," "Aldo Leopold Proposes a Land Ethnic, 1949."
Wednesday, March 31	TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL AWAKENING Film: Silent Spring Merchant, Major Problems in American Environmental History, pp.498-500, 511-516; "The National Environmental Policy Act, 1969, "Jack Lewis, "From Laissez-Faire to Environmental Legislation,"
Monday, April 5	REVIEW ESSAY DUE: Silent Spring
Wednesday, April 7	TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM Cronon, Uncommon Ground, pp.298-321,171-185; Giovana Di Chiro, "Nature as Community: the Convergence of Environmental Justice and Social Justice" Handout: Robert D. Bullard, "Anatomy of Environmental Racism."
Monday, April 12	TOPIC: NATURE AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT Cronon, Uncommon Ground, pp.171-185; 69-90: Richard White, "Are You An Environmentalist or Do You Work For a Living?" William Cronon, "The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature."
Wednesday, April 14	TOPIC: NURTURE VS. NATURE William Cronon vs. James Conaway Handout: James Conaway, "Nurture vs. Nature."
Monday, April 19	TOPIC: REVISING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA Merchant, Problems in American Environmental History, pp.524-526, 547-559: "A Federal Director Discusses Environmental Risk, 1983" Theodore Goldfarb, "Environmental Legislation," Daniel Faber and James O'Connor, "Environmental Politics."
Wednesday, April 21	TOPIC: THE MACHINE IN THE GARDEN REVIEW ESSAY DUE: The Organic Machine
Monday, April 26	TOPIC: THE MACHINE IN THE GARDEN continued Discussion of The Organic Machine
Wednesday, April 28	TOPIC: NATURE AS A HUMAN IDEA Cronon, Uncommon Ground, pp.186-217; Jennifer Price, "Looking for Nature at the Mall: A Field Guide to the Nature Company," Susan G. Davies, "Touch the Magic." Distribute Final Examination Essay Questions Take-Home Final Examination (Return Essay Questions)