After the American Revolution, there was a substantial increase in the use of natural resources, particularly the productive soils. In 20th century, American society faced a number of environmental changes and issues that have become transnational. These issues not only required a range of guidelines for the development of environment, but also made an urgent task of preventing catastrophic changes. One of these threats became an environmental crisis, manifested primarily in the depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution.
The end of the Civil War and constant population growth changed the American society in fundamental way. Harvey refers to the implementation of new approaches in terms of the relationship with nature in order to ensure rather sustainable development. The main strategy was aimed at restoring the balance between the society and the environment. The most relevant in this regard was to change the values, the orientation and transition to new models, taking into account the interests of the natural environment. Increasing public recognition marked the direct impact of development of ecological consciousness to address the issue with the use of natural resources.
Confronted in the early postwar decades, with devastating environmental consequences of an uncontrolled expansion of the norms and practices of industrial technological civilization, American society managed to carry out the conservation movement, the so-called ecological revolution in order to ensure environmental safety. The overuse of natural resources was a prerequisite for understanding the ethical problems of environment in its entirety and diversity. Thus, the environmental movement was a reasonable and significant step forward. In order to combat pollution a large-scale regulatory and legal system was set up in the 1960ies. Apparently, it was achieved a significant success, namely cleaner air as well as improvement of water quality. State regulations encompassed government intervention in economic and social processes in order to ensure rapid economic development, the highest level of employment and social stability. Development and implementation of environmental laws and programs has become an important part of public authorities and management at all levels of the US government.
The transformation of nature in terms of overuse of resources was one of the decisive factors in the development of the environmental movement. The man-made environmental changes pose a threat to American society determined of the value of nature as a reflection of the industrial society. However, public acceptance of nature conservation as a prerequisite for sustainable development occurred much later, when the negative consequences of industrial growth manifested in the form of systemic environmental change.
Works Cited
Harvey, Mark W. T. “Humans and the Environment in America’s Past.” OAH Magazine of History 10.3 (1996): 5-11. Print.
Myers, Norman. “Lifting the Veil on Perverse Subsidies.” Nature 392 (1998): 327-328. Print.
