How has the frontier shaped American history?
Turner attributed the formation of the American democracy to the Frontier. Besides, he claimed that the Frontier shaped American institutions, society, and culture. Therefore, the beliefs in individualism, political democracy, and economic mobility were the Frontier's major effects, which shaped American History.
What did the frontier mean to the Americans?
What did the ‘frontier’ mean to the Americans? Answer: The conquest and purchase of land by the Americans resulted in the extension of boundaries. The natives of America were compelled to move accordingly. The boundary where natives reached was known as ‘Frontier’. How is the thesis a product of Turner’s time?
What impact did the frontier have on American Society?
The frontier emphasized the spirit of nationalism and individualism in the United States. As mentioned amongst the themes of the West, the frontier experience converted settlers into individualists, who hoped to gain opportunity in the lands of the West.
What is the significance of the frontier?
The Significance of the Frontier in American History. The Significance of the Frontier in American History. Americana frontier was a fortified borderline, which run across dense populations. The American frontier line was a free land, which harbored immigrants from Europe that developed and modified American life.
What was the idea of the frontier?
The Frontier thesis was formulated 1893, when American historian Frederick Jackson Turner theorized that the availability of unsettled land throughout much of American history was the most important factor determining national development.
What is the Significance of the Frontier in American History quizlet?
Frontier provided safety valve for the pressures of American life; that is, a place of escape for those who could not or would not fit into the structure of civilization.
What does Frederick Jackson Turner believe was the Significance of the Frontier in American History?
Historian Frederick Jackson Turner believed that the strength and the vitality of the America identity lay in its land and vast frontier.
What were 3 significant effects of the frontier in American History?
What were 3 significant effects of the frontier in American History? They were beliefs in individualism, political democracy, and economic mobility.
Which is more important to American history the frontier of the cities?
The frontier is more significant to American history than the cities because the frontier had symbolized "land" mainly being unclaimed land, where people could go and settle on it. People could go and prosper on this land and make something out of nothing.
What does Frederick Jackson Turner believe was the Significance of the Frontier in American History What might be the implications of the closing of the frontier quizlet?
The historian Frederick Jackson Turner believed that the enduring presence of the frontier was responsible for making Americans individualistic, materialistic, practical, democratic, and energetic. In 1893 he declared that the closing of the frontier had ended the first stage of America's history.
What did historian Frederick Jackson Turner argue about the importance of the Western frontier in American history in 1893 quizlet?
Terms in this set (50) What did the historian Frederick Jackson Turner argue about the importance of the western frontier in American history in 1893? It made the United States different from Europe.
What was the main argument of the frontier thesis quizlet?
The Frontier Thesis or Turner Thesis, is the argument advanced by historian Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893 that American democracy was formed by the American frontier. He stressed the process—the moving frontier line—and the impact it had on pioneers going through the process.
Why was the closing of the frontier significance?
In 1890, the Census Bureau broadcast the closure of the frontier, meaning that in the west there was no apparent tracts of land without settlers. This news was a distinguished event in American history; the frontier represented danger because of the Natives who lived in the region but also freedom and opportunity.
What did the frontier to the Americans?
Answer : Americans explored the land and extended the boundaries, because of this the native American People were forced to move, the native people after wondering and travelling reached a boundary and this boundary were the natives reached was known as frontier.
What is the frontier thesis quizlet?
The Frontier Thesis or Turner Thesis, is the argument advanced by historian Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893 that American democracy was formed by the American frontier. He stressed the process—the moving frontier line—and the impact it had on pioneers going through the process.
What did Turner say was the most important effect of the frontier?
But the most important effect of the frontier has been in the promotion of democracy here and in Europe. As has been indicated, the frontier is productive of individualism.
How important was the concept of the frontier to America's political and diplomatic development?
The argument by Frederick Jackson Turner that the frontier experience helped make American socity more democratic; emphasized cheap, unsettled land and the absence of a landed aristocracy., The argument by Frederick Jackson Turner that the frontier experience helped make American society more democratic; emphasized ...
What was the frontier thesis quizlet?
The Frontier Thesis or Turner Thesis, is the argument advanced by historian Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893 that American democracy was formed by the American frontier. He stressed the process—the moving frontier line—and the impact it had on pioneers going through the process.
What was Turner's view of the American frontier in 1893 quizlet?
Terms in this set (43) Argued by Frederick Jackson Turner, the Turner thesis, or the frontier thesis, in 1893 stated that America was formed by the American frontier. The Turner Thesis stressed the process of the pioneers moving the frontier line and the democracy as a result of the Frontier.
How did the Turner Thesis make Americans more democratic?
Turner argued that the frontier had made the United States unique. Due to hardship, residents were forced to become resourceful and self-reliant. They developed strength and "rugged individualism," which in turn fostered the development of democracy. Turner paid no attention to women or the plight of Native Americans.
Who wrote the importance of the frontier?
Word Count: 447. "The Significance of the Frontier in American History" was written by Frederick Jackson Turner, delivered as a conference paper at the annual meeting of the American Historical Association in 1893, and published in that organization's Annual Report. There is much to this essay, which in many ways marks the rise ...
What is the frontier's chief characteristic?
As an effect of the environment into which it moved, the frontier’s chief characteristic is a process of reversion to savagery followed by a slow recovery of civilization that , because its chief influences are indigenous, cannot be an imitation of European life and must therefore be American alone.
Why is the United States unique?
For this reason, people have always been able to move westward. On the frontier, Turner thought, white men brought European ways that they had to adapt to the rugged conditions in these hinterlands . The mix of frontier-ready culture and European "civilization" was, for Turner, uniquely American, forged on the frontier, the "outer edge of the wave—the meeting point between savagery and civilization." Turner also thought that American democracy depended on the existence of free land. He thought that without its existence, large working classes would arise and become revolutionaries, creating a toxic environment for democracy as he understood it.
What were the two events that precipitated Turner's paper?
Two events precipitated Turner’s paper: First, the work of the Italian economist Achille Loria—who theorized that free land was the key to changes in human society— and of America as the best place in which to test this thesis, came to Turner’s notice in the late 1880’s. Loria’s work influenced an earlier paper by Turner, “Problems in American History” (1892). The second event was the announcement of the superintendent of the 1890 census that insufficient free land existed in the United States for the frontier to feature in the census reports as it had done since the first census in 1790. Turner dramatized this fact in the beginning of his paper. In effect, he was directing his fellow historians away from political and diplomatic history, insisting that, no matter what happened in European capitals, American history was made in the hinterland, where the westward movement had been the most significant historical phenomenon for Americans. There was, for historians, a vast frontier of local history to investigate in whatever state they might be located. The dramatic setting and occasion for Turner’s paper was not immediately appreciated, but it played its part in spreading his ideas rapidly.
What did Turner think of the American frontier?
Turner, in short, saw the American frontier as the key to American democracy, and, in a scholarly vein, the key to a valid historical understanding of the nation.
What was the mix of frontier-ready culture and European civilization?
The mix of frontier-ready culture and European "civilization" was, for Turner, uniquely American, forged on the frontier, the "outer edge of the wave—the meeting point between savagery and civilization.". Turner also thought that American democracy depended on the existence of free land. He thought that without its existence, ...
What is the frontier thesis?
At its heart is the so-called "frontier thesis," Jackson Turner's explanation for what has made the United States unique, or "exceptional," as most people of his time believed it to be.
What is the story of the frontier?
The story of the frontier is a story of progress. Every large American city was once a new settlement. Turner traces the evolution of a typical city from pioneer outpost to farming town to competitive metropolis. This process mirrors the growth of cities in Europe as industry replaced agriculture throughout the 19th century.
What is the growing frontier of America?
The growing frontier was also what Turner calls a more "typically American region" than other areas in the country with distinctive cultures. New England, for instance, was attached to the Puritanism of England. Puritanism refers to the beliefs of the Puritans, a strict branch of Christianity that arose in England in the late 16th and 17th centuries. The Southeast or "tidewater" region of Virginia and Maryland had its own aristocracy. But states farther west had more diverse populations with different languages, ethnicities, and local customs. This mix allowed an entirely new culture to develop, one that seemed not to occur anywhere else but in America. Citizens in Western areas weren't as devoted to regional traditions and were more accepting of change. When Western states debated slavery, Turner suggests, they were more open, seeking unity, not division.
What did Frederick Jackson Turner believe about the frontier?
Frederick Jackson Turner (1861–1932) believes the frontier cultivated certain traits in Americans both as individuals and as a nation . Pioneers relied on their own wits to survive and became more inventive in the process. Settlers in areas such as Kentucky and Tennessee faced isolation—the Allegheny Mountains separated them from other cities and towns. Solitude granted the settlers a sense of independence. The challenges of living off the land gave pioneers a unique resilience and confidence in their abilities. Widely available farmland increased enthusiasm for discovery.
Why did travel become a part of life?
As the nation expanded and technology developed , travel became a part of life. When people can move around easily, Turner says, their localism disappears. Americans now felt the entire country was theirs. They became invested and more politically active in national events in general.
What did the frontier promote?
The frontier promoted a composite American nationality. People from many countries emigrated and moved west, resulting in a melting pot of cultures. Turner suggests that these people became 'fused into a mixed race.' Although Turner knew that there were pockets of the nation that were wholly German or English, he recognized them as a part of the emerging multicultural American identity.
What was the frontier?
The demarcation of the frontier was a boundary line that was continuously being moved farther and farther west with each generation. In fact, it is the frontier, and subsequently its demarcation line, that determined the path of history more than other events.
What would happen to American culture and history once the frontier ceased to exist?
Would Americans maintain the 'dominant individualism' of frontier life? Would they retain the 'strength combined with acuteness and acquisitiveness?' Turner was concerned that once the frontier was officially removed, the next generations of Americans would be left with no territories to settle and no boundaries to overcome.
What did Turner say about the frontier?
Turner declared that this seemingly unimportant event represented a critical turning point in American history. Turner wrote, 'Now four centuries from the discovery of America, at the end of a hundred years of life under the Constitution, the frontier has gone, and with its going has closed the first period of American history'. Turner argued that the existence of the ever-shifting frontier was a major influence that has profoundly shaped the American character and history.
What was the impact of the frontier on the American people?
According to Turner, American history up until 1890 had been unique. In Europe, boundaries were fortified divisions separating large populations. In America, there was not a large enough population beyond the frontier to prevent migration. People who moved west had to fight Native Americans, learn to forage for food in the wilderness, and create tools and household implements from what they could find. The environment of the frontier was so strong that it created a tradition of self-sufficiency that is distinctly American and promoted a composite American nationality. People from many countries moved west, resulting in a melting pot of cultures and a multicultural American identity.
What was the American frontier environment?
The environment of the American frontier was so strong that it replaced European tradition, and from it arose the tradition of self-sufficiency that Turner says is distinctly American. The frontier promoted a composite American nationality.
What was the history of America up until 1890?
According to Turner, the history of America up until 1890, had been unique. In Europe, boundaries were fortified divisions separating large populations. In America, there was no large population beyond the frontier other than a few native tribes who were not numerous enough to prevent the migration west. Turner explained it this way, 'The frontier is the line of most rapid and effective Americanization… The wilderness masters the colonist. It finds him a European in dress, industries, tools, modes of travel, and thought.'
Why was the frontier important to the American people?
For the same length of time, those who lived in what had become old and established centres were conscious of the fact that there remained an open door to lands that were ostensibly unclaimed, where place and fortune were yet to be won. As a reality for some and as a symbol for others , the frontier became a vital factor in shaping American life and American character.
What is the American frontier?
See Article History. American frontier, in United States history, the advancing border that marked those lands that had been settled by Europeans. It is characterized by the westward movement of European settlers from their original settlements on the Atlantic coast (17th century) to the Far West (19th century).
What is the frontier of a country?
The term frontier has been defined in various ways. Webster’s International Dictionary, in 1890, described it as “that part of a country which fronts or faces another country or an unsettled region;…extreme part of a country.”. In the 19th century it was statistically classified as an area having no fewer than two but no more than six European ...
What is the frontier?
Webster’s International Dictionary, in 1890, described it as “that part of a country which fronts or faces another country or an unsettled region;…extreme part of a country.” In the 19th century it was statistically classified as an area having no fewer than two but no more than six European inhabitants per square mile (fewer than one to just over two Europeans per square kilometre). The United States Census Bureau defined areas with lower population densities as “unsettled” and on this basis marked the frontier line on a series of maps for each decade. Thus, areas on the frontier were no longer the exclusive domain of explorers, missionaries, and trappers, but settled homesteads were relatively rare and widely dispersed.
What was the first manifestation of frontier influence?
Thus understood, the American colonies along the Atlantic coast were Europe’s frontier, and their gradual drift away from European patterns was the first manifestation of frontier influence. They began the conquest of the wilderness; they took the first steps in crossing the continent; they became Americans. This, however, was only the beginning. Scarcely had the colonies themselves become firmly established before the western push began anew. Out from old centres, the dissatisfied, the restless, the adventurous made their way into the backcountry. There they encountered long-established Native American populations, sometimes coexisting with them, sometimes forcing them into open resistance but ultimate retreat. Sometimes they moved to secure more room for themselves and their cattle; sometimes, as John Winthrop described it, they simply possessed a “strong bent of their spirits to remove thither.”
What was the name of the east-west conflict produced by expansion?
Bacon’s Rebellion, the Regulator movement, and soon Shays’s Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion were all expressions of an east-west conflict produced by expansion.
What was the history of the United States?
Amid the uncertainty in the use of terms, there remains the simple fact that the history of the United States, up to the beginning of the 20th century, was that of a people moving steadily toward the occupation of a vast continent.
What was the significance of the frontier?
In his paper The Significance of the Frontier in American History, Frederick Jackson Turner argues that the development of the American society was largely shaped by the exploration of the new lands and westward expansion. These processes were important for modifying the cultural legacies of the colonizers (Turner 1998).
Why is the dynamic nature of the American frontier important?
The dynamic nature of the American frontier is important for showing why America turned a country that differed significantly from many European states.
Why is the frontier thesis not fully explained?
Nevertheless, the frontier thesis cannot fully explain why the United States turned into a democracy.
Why is Frederick Turner's approach to colonization important?
On the one hand, the approach is very helpful because the author can examine the primary documents that are related to the direct experiences of colonizers.
Does the author speak about the impact of their cultural heritage on their behavior, principles and attitude toward one another?
These are the main assumptions of this work. Nevertheless, the author does not speak about the impact of their cultural heritage on their behavior, principles and attitude toward one another. This is one of the main aspects that can be identified.
Does the author remain objective in analyzing the evolution of the American community?
This is the main limitation that should be considered. Overall, the author cannot remain entirely objective while analyzing the evolution of the American community.
Is the frontier thesis reconciled with the germ theory?
Overall, the frontier thesis and the germ theory can be reconciled with one another. Overall, one can argue that Frederick Turner’s views of frontier are critical for understanding various aspects of the American history. By examining the westward extension of the American territory, researchers can better understand the development ...
What does Turner believe about the frontier?
He believes that the frontier is what gives Americans their culture. He says of the frontier, "It strips off the garments of civilization and arrays him in the hunting shirt and the moccasin.". In addition to tracing the history of the frontier, Turner emphasizes the role that the frontier has played in fostering democracy ...
What is Frederick Jackson Turner's essay about?
In this essay, which Frederick Jackson Turner first delivered (in part) to a conference of the American Historical Association in Chicago in 1893 and which he later published in 1920, the author examines the changes that the closing of the American frontier will bring to American society.
What was the significance of the frontier?
Put forth by historian Frederick Jackson Turner in his paper, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” his thesis asserted that the existence of a frontier and its settlement had shaped American character; given rise to individualism, independence, and self-confidence; and fostered the American spirit of invention and adaptation. Later historians, especially a group of “New Western Historians,” modified the thesis by stating the environmental and other consequences of frontier settlement, the role of the federal government in peopling the arid West, and the clash of races and cultures that took place on the frontier. Turner’s article, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” written in 1893 explained the views of the Great West and how the Frontier changed the society of America. The Frontier Line changed political views of the Great West, known as, “the existence of an area of free land.” The frontier fortified a boundary line that runs through the dense populations, and the meeting points between savagery and civilization. Civilization entered the wilderness in the 1880s. The frontier was found in mining camps and ranches in the Great Plains. The Plymouth pilgrims settled on Indian cornfields; had lumber and beaver. River courses opened up many trades along the coast from Maine to Georgia. The Indians and England made trades; Indians were armed with guns and dependent on England while England was dominated by the trading frontier. The article, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” dealt with a lot of trading and the spread of civilization throughout the countries with different types of race and cultures.
When did the frontier begin?
Civilization entered the wilderness in the 1880s. The frontier was found in mining camps and ranches in the Great Plains. The Plymouth pilgrims settled on Indian cornfields; had lumber and beaver. River courses opened up many trades along the coast from Maine to Georgia. The Indians and England made trades; Indians were armed with guns and dependent on England while England was dominated by the trading frontier.
What was the importance of the frontier to the American character?
Turner believed that the ability of Americans to move west and find unsettled land helped them regenerate themselves and create a democracy. Turner thought that the frontier allowed European settlers to foster a uniquely American character—one that was not stale like that of Europe.
What is the most important theme in the book The Significance of the Frontier?
The most prominent theme in "The Significance of the Frontier in American History," Frederick Jackson Turner's influential paper, which would later be expanded into a book, is America's expansionism, particularly towards the western United States.
Why did people advocate for American imperialism?
As the frontier had closed, many people believed that the America was at a crossroads and that the lack of unsettled land would result in the national character becoming more stale. For this reason, people began to advocate for American imperialism.
Who was the first person to write about the importance of the frontier?
The historian Frederick Jackson Turner originally presented The Significance of the Frontier in American History at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. One of the themes of the paper is the idea that the frontier in America had closed as of 1890 (according to the census of that year).
What is the perspective of expansionism?
The perspective of expansionism is from a white American's point-of-view, as migration towards West of the Mississippi River entailed the displacement and destruction of Native American peoples.
What act offered free land for people that would improve the western land?
Homestead Act of 1862 (offered free/reduced land for people that would improve the western land)
Did many take advantage of the frontier?
In reality, many did not take advantage of the frontier, but it represented optimism
The American Spirit of Exploration and Independence
- Frederick Jackson Turner (1861–1932) believes the frontier cultivated certain traits in Americans both as individuals and as a nation. Pioneers relied on their own wits to survive and became more inventive in the process. Settlers in areas such as Kentucky and Tennessee faced isolation—the Allegheny Mountains separated them from other cities and to...
Nationalism Versus Localism
- Expansion of the frontier encouraged nationalism or loyalty to the entire country. Localism or sectionalism, a preference for the region or area in which one lives, became less frequent. People felt a sense of community with others beyond their cities and states. As the nation expanded and technology developed, travel became a part of life. When people can move around easily, Turne…
The Importance of Social Evolution
- The story of the frontier is a story of progress. Every large American city was once a new settlement. Turner traces the evolution of a typical city from pioneer outpost to farming town to competitive metropolis. This process mirrors the growth of cities in Europe as industry replaced agriculture throughout the 19th century. However, social evolution in America means constant re…
How The Frontier Promotes Democracy
- Democracy, a form of government in which the citizens are given the power to make decisions, stems from the fierce independence of pioneers. The War of 1812 (1812–15) saw Americans defending their own land against European trade interests, a stance Turner thinks drew strength from the frontier mentality. He also associates the frontier with the larger trend of Jacksonian de…