Table of Contents

Part I: Historical Overview: Topics and Themes 1. The American Environment and Native-European Encounters, 1000-1875 2. The New England Wilderness Transformed, 1600-1850 3. The Tobacco and Cotton south, 1600-1900 4. Nature and the Market Economy, 1750-1850 5. Western Frontiers: The Settlement of California and the Great Plains, 1820-1930 6. Urban Environments, 1850-1960 7. Conservation and Preservation, 1785-1950 8. Indian Land Policy, 1800-1990 9. The Rise of Ecology, 1890-1990 10. The Era of Environmentalism, 1940-2000 Part II: American Environmental History A to Z: Agencies, Concepts, Laws, and People Part III: Chronology: An Environmental History Timeline Part IV: Resource Guide Visual Resources Electronic Resources Bibliographical Essay Bibliography

Promotional Information

Merchant provides a context-setting overview of American environmental history from the beginning of the millennium; an encyclopedia of important concepts, people, agencies, and laws; a chronology of major events; and an extensive bibliography including films, videos, CD-ROMs, and websites.

About the Author

Carolyn Merchant is the Chancellor's Professor of Environmental History, Philosophy, and Ethics at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of several books including The Death of Nature, Ecological Revolutions, and Earthcare, and is president of the American Society for Environmental History.

Reviews

"This volume, like others in the series, should prove to be welcome." -- Booklist "Essential for colleges, university, and large public libraries, and special libraries supporting U.S. history, ecology, geography, or environmentalism." -- Choice "This is a one-volume resource not to be missed. It will be our primary reference work on American environmental history." -- John Opie, Environmental History "Merchant takes a most useful approach to environmental scholarship by encapsulating a daunting range of factual information and critical information into this practical volume... one of the best books of its kind." -- History "[Carolyn Merchant] is eminently qualified to produce this fifth edition to "The Columbia Guides to American History and Cultures" series... there is a great deal to admire in this guide." -- Environment and History "An impressive introduction to environmental history... Merchant has succeeded in producing an accessible first stop handbook that will be relied on for many years." -- Environmental Practice "Merchant has been one of the most important scholars building the field of environmental history. Her excellent guide will be of use to new students in environmental history and to established scholars coming into the field from other areas." -- John H. Perkins, The Quarterly Review of Biology "Merchant provides a valuable introduction to the topics and perspectives that characterize the discipline." -- Arn Keeling, H-Net Reviews