In the years after Thomas Jefferson made his killer real-estate deal and people played the Oregon Trail IRL, the United States had tons of resources at its disposal.
And while railroads crisscrossed the nation and parts of the West were industrialized, for the most part, the natural bounty of the country remained untouched. Roosevelt saw these resources as ripe for development; in his 1933 inaugural address, he stressed just how much humanity benefited from using and adapting the natural resources of the surrounding countryside. By mobilizing millions of workers to create infrastructure, he was in truth unlocking the nation's full potential.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- Does man have a right to exploit the natural resources of a given nation, or should these precious gifts be protected? Can a balance be achieved? Why or why not?
- What types of resources are found in the United States that could be used and shaped by people?
Chew on This
The America that Franklin Delano Roosevelt grew up in gave the world airplanes, telephones, radio, refrigeration, and a million more scientific achievements. These wonders are only possible by harnessing the bountiful natural resources that America has at its disposal.
Even in the early 20th century, the country was just coming to fully discover the natural beauty and bounty found within its borders. FDR's presidency stood at a crossroads between investing in the future or protecting our natural past, and given all the problems facing the nation, Roosevelt looked to the future.