|  The
history of the national monuments provides an fascinating
look at the tension between land conservation and
use in the United States. The creation of national
monuments are not always popular with everyone.
This section provides resources to examine what
a national monument is and is not, why they can
be controversial at times, using the resources explore
the following questions and learning activities.
Questions
- Who can create national monuments?
- What is the difference between a national monument
and a national park?
- Why is it important to have national monuments?
- Why are national monuments controversial?
- What national monuments did President Theodore
Roosevelt create?
What is a National Monument?
An area designated by the President, under the
authority of the Antiquities
Act of 1906, to protect objects of scientific
and historical interest that are located on Federal
lands.
Source National
Landscape Conservation System
Points of View
Theodore
Roosevelt and the National Park System. Learn
about President Theodore Roosevelt, the "father"
of national monuments.
Stohosky, Nathan. National
Monuments on Rangelands and the Controversy over
them. This college student created web site
explores the issues around the development of two
recent monuments.
Clinton
Declares New National Monuments, January 11,
2000. This CNN article presents information on the
new monuments and the controversy that surrounded
President Clinton's efforts.
Vincent, Carol. National
Monument Issues 2001 (pdf). This government
report explores the controversy around President
Clinton's creation of new national monuments and
the reaction of President Bush and his administration.
Activity Ideas
Create a webquest
on the controversy over the development of national
monuments. Students can explore the perspectives
of land owners, conservationists, ranchers. The
links above will serve as a start.
Develop an educational video on a
local national monument. Here is a great place for
videography
resources and another for digital
storytelling resources.
Identify an area near your school
that you feel is worthy of becoming a national monument
and develop a proposal explaing why.
Develop a travel
brochure on a national monument.
Explore the difference between private
and public lands using the Creatures
and Features in America's Backyard lesson plan.
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