Question

How did President Taft reverse many of Roosevelt's environmental policies?

Answer 1

President Taft reversed many of Roosevelt's environmental policies by approving the sale of federal land for commercial purposes, firing conservationist Gifford Pinchot, and allowing energy companies to exploit the Alaskan frontier, tarnishing his conservationist record despite his own federal land protections.

Step-by-step explanation:

President William Howard Taft reversed many of Theodore Roosevelt's environmental policies and made significant changes during his administration. While Roosevelt was a prominent conservationist who established 148 million acres of forest reserves, 50 wildlife sanctuaries, and several national parks, Taft had a more complex record. Taft's Secretary of the Interior, Richard A. Ballinger, approved the sale of millions of acres of federal land, which Pinchot criticized for violating conservation principles, leading to Pinchot's dismissal for insubordination. Although Taft did place more land under federal protection and secured legislation to block federal land sales, he is mainly remembered for permitting energy companies to exploit the Alaskan frontier and firing Gifford Pinchot, weakening his record as a conservationist. Despite signing more Progressive reforms, his actions and the perception of his administration contrasted sharply with Roosevelt's legacy in environmental conservation and Progressive ideals.

Answer 2

Taft, Roosevelt's hand-picked successor, was supposed to carry forward TR's progressive policies. Instead, he reversed Roosevelt's conservationism, as his Interior secretary returned public lands to private hands.