Department Chair
Andrew D. Nicholls, Ph.D.
Date of Award
8-2024
Access Control
Open Access
Degree Name
History, M.A.
Department
History and Social Studies Education Department
Advisor
York Norman, Ph.D.
Department Home page
https://history.buffalostate.edu/
First Reader
York Norman, Ph.D.
Second Reader
John D. Abromeit, Ph.D.
Abstract
From the nineteen eighties to the early two thousands, the United States saw a raise in awareness and activity from ecological activist groups. The United States government labeled ecological activist groups as the one domestic terrorist group that was the largest threat to the safety and well-being of the American public. Given the current environmental crisis facing the world, there should be encouragement and rise of green activism not an active dismissal. How did these activists become the number one on the United States government list? The groups that are primarily responsible for this claim are Earth First!, Earth Liberation Front and Animal Front Liberation. The historical context of these groups is important in understanding how the United States formed the idea of Eco-Terrorism. Little historical research has been done on eco-terrorism, even though many laws have been created and the impact of them is far reaching. To research into these groups is difficult given their lack of formal membership and disorganization. Scholars must rely on newspapers, magazines, zines and police reports to create an understanding of the history of eco-terrorism. Creating an understanding of eco-terrorism provides a modern historical understanding how the United States has approached the green movement and more radical groups.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Zachary and Smith, Zachary C., "Creation of Eco-Terrorism: A History of Actions by the Earth Frist!, Earth Liberation and Animal Liberation Front from the 1980s-2000s" (2024). History Theses. 59.
https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/history_theses/59
