The Research On The Conservation Movement During FDR Administration

Conservation movement is a product of American society progress. In modern times, to some extent, the rapid development of the U.S. economy was at the expense of the environment, which led to a negative impact on the sustainable development of the U.S.. Protecting natural resources was one of the important goals of the government. During the early1930s, Franklin Roosevelt implemented a series of policies and took some effective measures to protect natural resources by means of federal government power, achieving initial results after he was elected president. With the leadership of FDR, an upsurge of the second Conservation has been set off since the early20th century, laying the foundation for the coming American environmental protection movement after World War II.This thesis does a history research on the second Conservation movement during the FDR administration, including the background of the second conservation movement, policies and measures implemented by the FDR government and the achievements and the effects of the campaign. The main clue of this thesis is how to form the decision on the campaign under the FDR administration.This thesis is made up of six parts:the introduction is about the reason and the significance of the topic, the summary of former academic research at home and abroad, the academic value and innovation of the thesis and so on.The first part introduces the background on the rise of the second conservation movement. The early government took effective measures to protect natural resources and reached the first upsurge of the conservation movement during the Progressive Era., which provided a history background for FDR government. When Franklin Roosevelt took office, the U.S. was experiencing the most serious economic crisis in the history. Meanwhile, the ecological environment was gradually damaged. Droughts, dust bowls, floods and other natural disasters occurred frequently, so natural resources needed to be protected urgently. The Great Depression and the environmental crisis forced the president to carry out the campaign to save the economy and the environment simultaneously. FDR took actions to start the conservation movement rapidly and efficiently after the inauguration of the president.The second part focuses on how to carry out the second conservation movement. The movement is the result of a combined effect which contains the leadership of FDR, cooperation of the Congress and the support of the Cabinet members and other federal government officials and so on. Undoubtedly, Roosevelt was the leader and chief designer of the campaign. He carried out the conservation work creatively by the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the T.V.A., Soil Conservation Service and so on. Congress approved a number of legislation on the conservation and appropriated financial funding to help president to realize the conservation goals timely. At the same time, Cabinet members and other federal officials made recommendations to the president immediately, and carried on the specific projects of the campaign. With the development of the conservation, the target of the conservation movement became clear gradually.The third part introduces policies and measures taken by the FDR government and achievements during the second conservation movement. It mainly focuses on the protection of forest resources, soil resources, and comprehensive development and utilization of water resources and so on.The fourth part make an assessment by pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of the conservation movement. It is certain that its natural resources were well protected and the environment was greatly improved. Also, the federal government strengthened the management of environment after World War II.The fifth part analyzes the revelations of the Conservation Movement for China, which include the referential experience and the lessons we should learn.