Teaching the Article
Day 2: Implications of Petroleum Dependence
These radical changes in human capabilities and in the American standard of living have a variety of implications. Primarily, a standard of living emerged that helped to make American society one of the most advanced and successful in world history; however, the associated outcomes of this massive reliance on inexpensive petroleum can be found across American life. Grouping them into broad categories, these implications include: politics, economics, foreign trade/relations, environmental issues, economics, and landscape planning and development. As we appreciate the importance of crude in 20th century America, we must also account for the costs of our dependence.
Use the links below as a starting point before considering what changes you see around yourselves in the second decade of the 21st century.
Exercise 1: NSC-68
This Cold War document was released to the public due to the freedom of information act. As an internal document of the Truman administration, NSC-68 provides a basic insight into the strategic thinking behind the U.S. effort in the Cold War. Limited by the implications of nuclear weapons, the administration explored ways in which the American way of life could be used to counter Soviet expansion. As you read this section of NSC-68, consider the following questions.
Questions
- Where is inexpensive petroleum in this model of “democratic” living?
- Does this status place particular importance on crude in relation to national security?
- What might be the implications of this fact: After 1950, the U.S. no longer produces all the petroleum that it needs and it must begin to import crude from other nations for the first time?
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Exercise 2: Carter’s Speech
On July 1979, President Jimmy Carter gave one of the most scrutinized speeches in presidential history. It was actually a speech designed to confront the general displeasure and anxiety–later termed “malaise” by observers–being felt by many Americans in the 1970s for a variety of reasons. Due to his willingness to confront large-scale portions of American life, many historians have criticized Carter’s speech, referring to it more as a lecture than a political pronouncement. Regardless of its political utility in 1977, Carter’s speech emphasizes important new realizations about Americans use of energy. View his speech and respond to the questions below.
Questions
- In Carter’s mind, how is energy contributing to ideas of “American decline”?
- What does he urge Americans to do in response?
- In using the term, “the moral equivalent of war,” does Carter exaggerate?
- How do you think people reacted?
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Exercise 3: We love Twinkies!
In the very fabric of our everyday lives, there are many symbols of Americans’ high-energy existence that we take for granted. The Hostess Twinkie, though, stands out in this pantheon of consumption as what Michael Pollan calls “the most energy-intensive food known to man.” Although it seems like a simple food, manufacturing the Hostess Twinkie requires 35 ingredients and significant energy input. Review the 35 ingredients in a Twinkies and consider the questions below.
Questions
- Where is petroleum in these ingredients?
- Can you speculate about what aspects of making and delivering your Twinkie might involve petroleum?
- Are there other products that might surprise you by relying on crude? What are they?
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Exercise 4: Chemicals and Environmental Justice
Consumer products that use petroleum have had a significant impact on the natural environment. Since World War II , the use of petroleum in plastics and chemicals has led to massive growth of the industries that manufacture such products, referred to generally as the petro-chemical sector. Concentrated near accessible supplies of crude, America’s “Toxic Corridor” is found along the Mississippi River (See photo essay below).
After viewing this photo essay, read Executive Order 12898 of February 11, 1994, which is known as a landmark for “environmental justice.”
Questions
- How do the details of what you see result in this 1994 Executive Order?
- How would you define the term “environmental justice”?
- What is its relationship to American consumption of goods made from petroleum?
- Even if we do not live near these manufacturing sites, how does each consumer participate in this industry?
- How is this trend influenced by the emergence of retailers such as WalMart after the 1970s?
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Exercise 5: Energy Consumption Data, U.S. Energy Information
Now that we have considered microscopic examples of the culture of consumption, let’s use data to gain an overall, macroscopic context for this remarkable period in American history. When future historians look back on 20th century Americans, energy consumption will be a characteristic that distinguishes them from other societies in human history. Review Figures 5.1b and 5.13a and use the information to respond to this question.
Questions
- How has American consumption of petroleum changed since World War II?
- How have usages of petroleum changed during this period?
- Imagine that you are a historian in 2050 who is studying American society of the late 20th century. What are some of the adjectives or descriptive phrases that you will use to categorize them in the global history of humans?
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Exercise 6: Oil Spill Commission Report, 2010
By the early 21st century, humans’ need for crude has led us into formerly impossible environments and situations. New technology, for instance, allows for new drilling techniques as well as the development of wells on the sea bottom–often miles below the surface of the ocean. These new efforts often bring with them increased risk for industrial accidents, particularly spills of oil into the ocean and on to the land. In 2010, deepwater drilling for petroleum in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in the largest oil spill in American history. As a result, President Barrack Obama convened a special commission to investigate the incident specifically and ocean drilling in general. Review a portion of the report that is of interest to you and respond to the questions below.
Questions
- What is to blame for this industrial accident?
- How will future historians discuss this event of 2010?