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Recommended: Theodore Roosevelt's impact on the environment

Theodore Roosevelt is known as one of our nation's greatest presidents. He is enshrined in Mount Rushmore, alongside, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. Unlike these former presidents, Roosevelt neither preserved the Union, wrote the Declaration of Independence or fought for American freedom, yet he is still held to the same esteem as these men. Not one single action or historical event can be used to define T.R’s ascension to greatness. Roosevelt’s role in history can be attributed to his multifaceted actions and programs. Roosevelt is known as being a hunter, a war hero, an expansionist and more significantly a progressive. One form of progressivism shown by Roosevelt was his fight to protect the environment. Although skepticism as to the true intent of Roosevelt’s environmental movement is addressed at the end of this paper, overwhelming evidence shows Roosevelt’s lifework helped restore America's wildlife populations and natural resources that were decimated by the industrial revolution and gilded age. His contributions added to the longevity of the nation’s useful natural resources, and this is a major topic that he should be known for.
In order to understand Roosevelt’s environmental legacy, it is important to understand his intent when it came to protecting nature. The philosophical reasoning behind environmentalism is divided between preservationists and conservationists. The distinction between the two conflicting ideas can be defined through the advocates, Gifford Pinchot and John Muir philosophies. Pinchot firmly believed that nature should be used to benefit man. This Conservationist mentality, believes “nature comes first” and in order for it to benefit the largest amount of people, restrictio...

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.... Roosevelt’s used his political position to influence legislators. He drafted petitions and testified before committees on the issue and on May 7, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the bill which outlawed the abuse inside the territory. This Act stopped the exploitative practices of the Northern Pacific Railroad and was a major step in the protection of Yellowstone's natural resources.
During this period, in 1895, the Boone and Crockett club also contributed to the creation of the New York Zoological Society. This program focused on the protection of wild animals through zoos and parks. It established areas where visitors could come, experience nature and learn about the importance of conservation. The society used the profits and locations to revive depleting animal populations, such as the American Bison, and eventually reintroduced them into the wild.

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