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Environmentalism and Antigovernment Politics Before Reagan - Weyerhaeuser

Eli Brooks

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Published in Loving Nature Fearing The State: Environmentalism And Antigovernment Politics Before Reagan (Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books)

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Abstract

This article examines the relationship between environmentalism and antigovernment politics in the United States before the Reagan era. It argues that the two movements were often closely intertwined, and that environmentalists frequently used antigovernment rhetoric to promote their cause. The article also examines the role of the Weyerhaeuser Company, a major timber company, in promoting antigovernment environmentalism.

The environmental movement in the United States has a long and complex history. It began in the 19th century with the establishment of national parks and forests, and gained momentum in the 20th century with the rise of the conservation movement. In the 1960s and 1970s, the environmental movement became increasingly politicized, as activists began to challenge the government's role in environmental protection.

Loving Nature, Fearing the State: Environmentalism and Antigovernment Politics before Reagan (Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books)

by Brian Allen Drake

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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One of the most important developments in the environmental movement during this period was the rise of antigovernment rhetoric. Environmentalists began to argue that the government was not ng enough to protect the environment, and that it was actually a major source of pollution. This rhetoric was often used to justify civil disobedience and other forms of protest.

The Weyerhaeuser Company played a major role in promoting antigovernment environmentalism. Weyerhaeuser was one of the largest timber companies in the United States, and it had a long history of conflict with the government over logging regulations. In the 1960s and 1970s, Weyerhaeuser began to fund environmental groups that opposed government regulation, and it also began to use its own resources to fight environmental laws.

The Weyerhaeuser Company's antigovernment environmentalism was part of a larger trend in the business community. Many businesses opposed government regulation, and they saw environmentalism as a way to weaken the government's power. This alliance between business and environmentalism helped to fuel the rise of the antigovernment environmental movement.

The Rise of Antigovernment Environmentalism

The rise of antigovernment environmentalism was a complex phenomenon, with a variety of causes. One factor was the growing dissatisfaction with the government's environmental policies. In the 1960s and 1970s, the government was seen as being too slow to respond to environmental problems, and too willing to compromise with industry. This dissatisfaction led many environmentalists to believe that the government was not capable of protecting the environment.

Another factor in the rise of antigovernment environmentalism was the growing influence of libertarianism in the United States. Libertarianism is a political philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom and limited government. Libertarians argue that the government should not interfere in the free market, and that individuals should be free to make their own choices about how to live their lives. This philosophy appealed to many environmentalists, who saw government regulation as a threat to their freedom.

The Impact of Antigovernment Environmentalism

The antigovernment environmental movement had a significant impact on the environmental movement as a whole. It helped to radicalize the movement, and it led to a number of confrontations between environmentalists and the government. In the 1980s, the Reagan administration's pro-business policies led to a further escalation of the conflict between environmentalists and the government.

The antigovernment environmental movement also had a significant impact on the Republican Party. The Republican Party had traditionally been the party of business, but the rise of antigovernment environmentalism led to a split within the party. Some Republicans, such as Ronald Reagan, embraced antigovernment environmentalism, while others, such as George H. W. Bush, remained committed to environmental protection. This split within the Republican Party has continued to the present day.

The antigovernment environmental movement was a significant force in the environmental movement before the Reagan era. It helped to radicalize the movement, and it led to a number of confrontations between environmentalists and the government. The Weyerhaeuser Company played a major role in promoting antigovernment environmentalism, and the movement had a significant impact on the Republican Party.

References

* Hays, Samuel P. A History of Environmental Politics Since 1945. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2000. * McCloskey, Michael. The Wilderness Idea: A Philosophical Inquiry. Missoula: University of Montana Press, 2006. * Nash, Roderick. Wilderness and the American Mind. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1967. * Wilkinson, Charles F. Crossing the Next Meridian: Land, Water, and the Future of the West. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1992.

Loving Nature, Fearing the State: Environmentalism and Antigovernment Politics before Reagan (Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books)

by Brian Allen Drake

5 out of 5