Yosemite in 1864: Protecting a Place for the Public
When people think of national parks, they often picture massive granite peaks, sweeping valleys, and protected wildlife. Many assume that the federal government created these parks simply by drawing a line around untouched wilderness. However, the history of land protection in the United States is more complicated. The preservation of Yosemite began not as a federal national park, but as a special land grant during one of the most turbulent times in American history.
On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a historic piece of legislation known as the Yosemite Grant Act. At that moment, the nation was deep in the middle of the American Civil War. Battles raged hundreds of miles away, yet leaders in Washington, D.C., took time to debate the fate of a scenic valley in California. The 1864 law granted Yosemite Valley and the nearby Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias to the state of California. The federal government required that the state hold the land for public use, resort, and recreation, ensuring it would remain preserved for future generations.
- preservation:
- The act of keeping something safe from harm, damage, or destruction.
- legislation:
- A law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official.
- privatization:
- The process of transferring property or services from public control to private businesses.
- conservationists:
- People who work to protect the natural environment, wildlife, and natural resources.
- displacement:
- The forced removal of people from their homes or traditional lands.
- designation:
- An official name, title, or category given to something.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What major national conflict was taking place when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act?
- 2Which two specific areas of land did the 1864 act grant to the state of California?
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About this explanatory article passage for 5th Grade
“Yosemite in 1864: Protecting a Place for the Public” is a explanatory article reading passage about Yosemite Grant Act of 1864, written for 5th Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (551 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.