First Along the River is the premier text that introduces students to the U.S. environmental movement. Concise, accessible, and informative, this third edition has been updated to include a new chapter addressing environmental issues in the post 9/11 world, policy shifts under the Bush administration, climate change, and the future of environmental movements. First Along the River provides students with a balanced, historical perspective on the history of the environmental movement in relation to major social and political events in U.S. history. The book highlights important people and events, places critical concepts in context, and shows the impact of government, industry, and population on the American landscape. Comprehensive yet brief, First Along the River discusses the religious and philosophical beliefs that shaped Americans' relationship to the environment, traces the origins and development of government regulations that impact Americans' use of natural resources, and shows why popular environmental groups were founded and how they changed over time. “ First Along the River provides a concise, updated introduction to U.S environmental history. An excellent supplement for any student of the subject.” ―Bob Buerger, professor of environmental studies, University of North Carolina, Wilmington “A truly unique work, accessible to all, that demonstrates the common property nature of our global environment and its unwitting exploitation in the not so common interest. A good U.S. environmental history supplement for any environmentally oriented course.” ―John Stoll, professor of economics, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay “An extraordinary book that should be required reading for anyone interested in environmentalism and the future of our planet. From colonialism to the post-9/11 world, Kline provides a comprehensive, current, and approachable synthesis for anyone interested in environmentalism.” ―Torben C. Rick, professor of anthropology, Southern Methodist University “Benjamin Kline's work is remarkable because of its depth and breadth in covering the topics, but also because of its brevity and accessibility to students. His descriptions of how U.S. environmental policies have emerged and evolved within social, economic and political contexts are insightful and provide the background needed to enhance our understanding of current environmental policy debates. In this way the book is a valuable addition to classes on environmental policy, as it enables students to ground ongoing efforts to grapple with difficult environmental problems within longer term economic and social trends.” ―Rick Welsh, professor of sociology, Clarkson University “I find this a very useful text for an introductory course that I teach called 'Environment and People.' It is clear and straightforward, and yet, it is not overly simplified. It traces how resources have been used and pollution created throughout the historical development of the U.S., while reviewing the individual, organized, and institutional responses to the environmental problems created. With the addition of a new chapter on the environmental policies of the George W. Bush administration, and the new international political context in which emerging global environmental problems must now be addressed, the book provides an excellent overview for introductory courses on environmental history, politics, and policy.” ―Jane A. Grant, professor of public and environmental affairs, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne Benjamin Kline is professor in both the Social Science and Intercultural Studies Divisions at De Anza College. Among his many publications are four books, including First Along the River: A Brief History of the Environmental Movement in the United States, Genesis of Apartheid: British African Policy in the Colony of Natal 1845–93, and numerous articles including "Northern Ireland: A Protracted Conflict," "Winston Churchill and Michael Colins 1919-22: Their Conflicting Views of Ireland and its Future," and a contribution to the Cambridge Illustrated History of the British Empire.