Who argued for preserving wilderness against development?

• A. Gifford Pinchot
• B. Theodore Roosevelt
• C. Jane Addams
• D. John Muir

Answer: (D)

Preserving wilderness as a value in itself and keeping wild places free from exploitation is the idea at work here. John Muir argued that nature has intrinsic worth and should be kept pristine, not parceled out for development, which helped spark the preservation movement and the push for protected lands and national parks through his writings and activism with the Sierra Club. While Theodore Roosevelt promoted conservation and managed use of resources, and Gifford Pinchot emphasized practical, utilitarian stewardship of natural resources, they supported careful use rather than blanket protection of all wilderness. Jane Addams was focused on urban social reform and does not center on wilderness preservation. So, the best fit for arguing against development to preserve wilderness is John Muir.