President Roosevelt’s Tree Army
President Roosevelt’s tree army were our first environmentalists. When we think about global warming today we should consider what these young men were able to do back then. They took the daunting effects of the Dust Bowl and tackled it head on. We can do the same today.
In The Great Depression during the 30’s and early 40’s the majority of working people had no jobs. There was widespread despair and hopelessness until President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected and brought in the New Deal. This generation of young men numbered more than three million and they became the first environmentalists when they joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC brought hope to a nation and changed people’s lives forever. They left behind them new buildings, roads, bridges, parks, and landscapes as they toiled across the nation.
About half the men in the CCC came from rural America. Many came from the cities. These men were malnourished and had little experience with the environment. They were given three meals a day, warm clothing, and access to doctors and dentists, some for the first time in their lives. They were hardly recognizable to their families when they returned from the healthy atmosphere and hard manual labor.
The Great Depression was compounded by the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s. Caused by unwise use of the land and destruction of natural resources. These habits reduced 8 million acres of virgin timber to 1 million by the time FDR took office, something had to be done. He called for a land policy to end future soil erosion, timber famine, and to give employment to young men, fondly referred to as “The president’s tree army”.
The CCC planted 2 billion trees, successfully slowed soil erosion on 40 million acres of farmland, and they developed 800 new state parks between 1933 and 1942. It gave the nation hope and the young men gave something back to the country. “When people think about global warming,” Said Neil Maher associate professor of history at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University-Newark, “I hope they will consider what these young men were able to do back then. “They took the daunting effects of the Dust Bowl-considered at the time a natural disaster-and healed it by tackling it head on.” We can do the same thing by with the current climate crisis.
My granddad, my dad, and my uncle worked in these projects enacted by Franklin D. Roosevelt. My granddad and my dad worked on The WPA. They worked repairing and building roads. My uncle joined the CCC planting trees and building parks. These programs were the salvation of our people. Those times were hard times that few can imagine now.
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User Comments
Unofre Pili
On November 7, 2008 at 5:17 am
Thank you for the giving me a glimpse of America that time maam. I always love history.
Christine Ramsay
On November 7, 2008 at 6:10 am
A great article Ruby. It makes you think. We all assume we are the only generation to do anything about environmental problems, but you have proved this has been going on for some time. we must all do our bit.
Christine
Rana Sinha
On November 7, 2008 at 6:22 am
Thanks for the article. Great achievements in those days. We need similar initiatives, more so now after 8 years of incompetence.
Debra.
On November 7, 2008 at 6:48 am
Very educational. I really loved your depth. Awesome!
Glynis Smy
On November 7, 2008 at 7:03 am
This was interesting, I know a little more about your history and the country you love, thanks. What a grand idea to come up with, giving pride back to the men is a marvelous idea!
C Jordan
On November 7, 2008 at 7:20 am
A fascinating piece on US history that I did not know about. Thanks
Joanna Maharis
On November 7, 2008 at 7:40 am
Great article. I really enjoyed it.
Take Care,
Joanna Maharis
PR Mace
On November 7, 2008 at 9:09 am
Great article with a good message. I did not know about the CCC. I am thankful for the men including the ones on your family that took on this task. What would our nation be now without their efforts and hard work. Thank you, Ruby.
eddiego65
On November 7, 2008 at 9:27 am
Interesting lesson in history! Thanks!
goodselfme
On November 7, 2008 at 10:39 am
So very well done. Thank you
Karen Gross
On November 7, 2008 at 12:08 pm
What a great experience for young men, literally planting the future of your country. Much better than sending them off to fight endless, unwinnable wars (my personal opinion – Canadians are peacemakers).
NA Staffieri
On November 7, 2008 at 8:21 pm
FDR was one of our finest Presidents. It’s amazing why this piece of history is not a part of education in our classrooms. Such relevance to every generation.
Brian Daniel Stankich
On November 7, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Ruby, thanks for sharing this history. I was unaware of most of it.
Darlene McFarlane
On November 7, 2008 at 9:38 pm
How interesting. A great history lesson.
Thanks, Ruby.
Liane Schmidt
On November 7, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Really great, unique and surprising article!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
leannehume
On November 8, 2008 at 6:47 am
Very interesting article. Thanks
Ruby Hawk
On November 8, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Thank you good folks for your interest. I am way behind. I did not know this period of time was not taught in our class rooms. I have been afraid our youngsters were not being taught about the holocaust and now I find it is worse than I thought. I guess it is up to the parents and grandparents to talk about history to the children and inform them. It’s the only way to prevent the same mistakes in the future. You all take care, Ruby
CHAN LEE PENG
On November 9, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Nice read. Take care!
Lucas Dié
On November 13, 2008 at 11:55 am
Lovely text, and a glimpse of the States Europeans tend to forget about
B Nelson
On August 13, 2009 at 10:36 am
Terrific piece for the Environment!!!! I found it by clicking from your American Health Care piece, which for some reason I was unable to leave a comment on, but assure you Canadas health care system is great.
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