Legacy of the American Dream: People, Power and Nature

Since the founding of the Republic, Americans have seen themselves as blessed with a bountiful environment. Abundance of land, water, forest, farmlands, wildlife and wilderness defined America until westward expansion concluded in the early 20^th century. Capitalism transformed the country from an agrarian society into an industrial power. Democracy adapted to changing demands and expectations, and the Constitution proved to be a framework of governance capable of accommodating dramatic changes in society. The American dream became a beacon that continues to attract new immigrants to this country. These images of being American have been popularized and communicated by various forms of media throughout our history.

Yet, America also contains awkward tensions and contradictions. Native Americans were conquered and displaced. African Americans were brought in bondage and began receiving freedom only after 1865. Other immigrants often faced poverty and discrimination upon arrival. Women were denied suffrage until 1920. Many Americans – of all races, ethnicities and national origins – historically, and to this day, have neither achieved equality nor escaped poverty.

Nature has been subjected to intense exploitation in the search for riches. Natural resources and the environment have often been trampled. Agricultural lands have lost productivity from poor farming practices, and industrial pollution has fouled waterways, soil and the air. Pollution has most often affected the people who are least able to afford the protections used by the prosperous, leaving a legacy of concerns about environmental health. Critical habitats have been destroyed, species face extinction, and important resources such as wetlands have been undervalued and destroyed. Social inequality and the intense over-exploitation of nature have always created great controversy in American politics.

This program will explore how America created a system of abundance and environmental protection, and a system of inequality and environmental destruction. Central questions include: What were the patterns of development in the nation's first two centuries? What are the prospects and challenges in our third century?

Our exploration of these themes will focus on the interactions of humans and nature and how we historically and presently understand these interactions. In doing this, we want to develop a critical understanding of how various forms of communication have influenced decision-makers and the public. We will learn to interpret various forms of writing including scientific, fiction, news and media, nature writing, environmental impact statements, legislative initiatives, and bureaucratic forms of communication. We will learn to read and create maps with the use of geographic information systems, atlases, and demographic data. Our analysis will be assisted by political science, economics, environmental history, physical and cultural geography, and anthropology.

Written and verbal communication skills will be emphasized, as well as qualitative and quantitative reasoning and environmental problem solving. This program is intended for freshmen and provides a basis for further work in the natural and social sciences, as well as environmental studies.