Final answer:
Federal land policy in the early republic did not focus on conservation until Theodore Roosevelt's presidency when the conservation movement gained importance, leading to the establishment of national parks and forests, and policies for sustainable use.
Step-by-step explanation:
Federal land policy in the early republic did not focus on the conservation of public land. There was little federal concern for the country's natural resources prior to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, and the exploitation of the environment was rampant. It was under Roosevelt's leadership that the conservation movement began to gain momentum, primarily through the establishment of national parks, forests, and wildlife sanctuaries.
Roosevelt himself, along with his appointed chief of the U.S. Forestry Service, Gifford Pinchot, promoted a conservationist vision that combined the protection of natural beauty with regulated use for future generations. This approach culminated in pivotal actions such as the creation of national parks and the implementation of the Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960, reflecting both environmental and industrial interests.
Moreover, the conservation movement was marked by a division between the utilitarian conservation advocated by Pinchot and the preservationist view ascribed to figures like John Muir, who sought to preserve wilderness for its inherent value. Teddy Roosevelt is credited with institutionalizing conservation and facilitating a shift in public consciousness towards preservation and sustainable use of the country's natural resources.