Question

question 8 of 10

how did president taft reverse many of roosevelts environmental policies?

a. he dismantled the u.s. division of forestry.
b. he supported building railroads through public land.
c. he supported the sale of public land and resources to businesses.
d. he stopped the preservation of wetlands and wildlife refuges.

Explanation:

Analyze Roosevelt's conservation policies

Theodore Roosevelt was a passionate conservationist who set aside millions of acres of public land for national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges, protecting them from commercial exploitation.

Examine Taft's policy shift

William Howard Taft, Roosevelt's successor, took a more legalistic approach to administration. His Secretary of the Interior, Richard Ballinger, opened up millions of acres of public lands in Alaska and the West to private commercial development and sale, which directly clashed with Roosevelt's conservationist allies like Gifford Pinchot.

Evaluate the given options

• A. He dismantled the U.S. Division of Forestry. (Incorrect: The Forest Service remained active, though its leadership changed after the Pinchot-Ballinger controversy.)
• B. He supported building railroads through public land. (Incorrect: This was not the primary policy reversal associated with his environmental record.)
• C. He supported the sale of public land and resources to businesses. (Correct: Under Taft's administration, particularly through Secretary Ballinger, protected public lands and coal deposits were opened up for private business leasing and purchase.)
• D. He stopped the preservation of wetlands and wildlife refuges. (Incorrect: He did not completely halt all preservation, but rather shifted policies regarding commercial access to public lands.)

Connect to Progressive Era Reform

During the Progressive Era Reform movement, conservation was a major battleground between those who wanted to preserve natural resources for public use and those who wanted to open them up for private corporate development. Taft's decisions alienated progressive conservationists and contributed to the split in the Republican Party.

Answer:

• (A) He dismantled the U.S. Division of Forestry.
• (B) He supported building railroads through public land.
• (C) He supported the sale of public land and resources to businesses. (Correct answer)
• (D) He stopped the preservation of wetlands and wildlife refuges.