The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America

Do you agree with Pinchot’s claim that with more resources the Forest Service could have prevented the fire? Why or why not?

Could Roosevelt have presented his case for national forest reserves and the United States Forest Service more effectively? What could Roosevelt have done to ensure his Forest Service received funding?

Conservationists and industry groups continue to battle over public land just as they did in Roosevelt’s time. What lessons can be learned from Roosevelt and Pinchot’s advocacy? What did they do right? What did they do wrong?