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

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?

Did Roosevelt and Pinchot achieve the goals of their conservation agenda? Why or why not?

Should the Forest Service work to prevent forest fires in the national forest reserves and parks? If fires are natural and beneficial to the ecosystems, and the goal of the Forest Service is to preserve natural ecosystems, why interfere? List three arguments for preventing fires and three arguments against.

Why shouldn’t industry extract as much value as possible from the land? If you believe industry should be allowed free reign on the land, explain the long-term sustainability of such actions. Is there a compromise that can be reached between both positions? Explain.

Senator Heyburn has a mountain and a state park named after him. This seems odd for someone Egan portrays as an enemy of conservation. Without researching Heyburn, what are some possible explanations for this? Now research Heyburn. Why do you believe he is honored in this way? Did Egan provide a complete and accurate portrayal of Heyburn?

Provide three parallels between Roosevelt’s relationship with congress and modern politics. Explain.

What would the long-term ramifications have been for the United States if Roosevelt had prevented railroads from being constructed in the national forest reserves? What would the long-term ramifications have been for the United States if the Roosevelt administration had not provided a check to industrial activity in the forests?