Political Minefield

• Environmentalism had become a major political issues that aroused passionate emotions as it caused:

  • Intra-party conflict- the Democratic party contained middle class Liberals who favoured environmental legislation and blue-collar workers who did not.
  • Inter-party conflict- the party of big business Republicans were often less concerned about the environment than Democrats.
  • Surprising unanimity in states whose dependence upon manufacturing made them feel threatened by environmentalism.
  • Tension between the Federal Government and several States.
  • A Conservative Backlash.
• • Surprisingly unanimity in states whose dependence upon manufacturing made them felt threatened by environmentalism
  • Tension between the Federal GOV & several states