Jan 5, 2010

The War Against the Trees | Topics for Further Study

Research the history of American environmentalism from 1892 (the beginning of the Sierra Club), to 1962 (the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring). What themes and questions do you see recurring?

Paying special attention to Standard Oil, research the history of the oil industry in the United States during the 1950s. Prepare a report describing who benefitted from the industry’s actions, and who suffered.

Gather photos of 1950s suburbia from your parents, friends, and photo books. Sort them according to topics such as “Conformity,” “Affluence,”...