The Frontier Of American History - 1116 Words

In the Significance of the Frontier in American History, Frederick Jackson Turner discusses the understanding of the West as a concept. Turner’s claims included that the expansion into the frontier fueled individualism, stimulated democracy and nationalism, and widened the opportunity of advancement. In the census of 1890, the frontier no longer had a place in the report because the previously unsettled areas had been broken into areas of settlement. Turner uses the definition of two people per square mile of land as the frontier’s official closing, and no longer a point of historical relevance. In the essay, Turner points out the differences in America’s expansion with other nations. Other nations developed in a confined area, then†¦show more content†¦The problem developed from excess credit of one of the field’s founders, Frederick Jackson Turner. Although Turner’s writings left out large groups of people, many Americans viewed Turnerâ⠂¬â„¢s thesis as Western history. When Turner’s ideas began to be criticized, that something had gone wrong in Western history, not Turner’s thesis. The view of Western history slowly began to change. Turner recognized the national significance of the frontier, so abandoning him would threaten the place of the West in American history (Limerick). In 1984, American historian Patricia Limerick attended a history conference. All of the focus of the history of America was on the revolutionary war in the East. This inspired her to write Legacy of Conquest. Limerick wanted to reclaim what other historians have said, critique Turner, but not throw the idea of the west away. Her thesis argues the West as a place of property and cultural dominance. Limerick defines the West as a place of conquest and diversity. Limerick stresses the West as a place rather than a process, but didn’t draw exact borders of the region. Limerick deemphasizes the â€Å"end† of the frontier; she argues that the West was an important meeting ground for a diversity of languages, cultures, and religions, including minorities Turner left out. This blending of diversity in the West is anShow MoreRelatedThe Frontier Of American History1567 Words   |  7 PagesThe Frontier in American History was one of the most famous essays by Frederick Turner in the nineteenth century. In this essay, Turner expressed his thoughts about how the frontier set up and created unique American characteristics. He explained the idea of American exceptionalism, which states that America is different than other nations in the world. The development of America included many significant events, and our nation s identity was made up by many factors, not just only the frontierRead MoreThe Significance of the Frontier in American History1439 Words   |  6 Pagesalong the American frontier? What Turner wants to point out here is that the American West is the most important feature of American history, and of the development of its society. He refers several times to a process of â€Å"Americanization† and we will see that the definition he gives of it is a very peculiar one. He gives a definition of the frontier: â€Å"it lies at the hither edge of free land†, meaning that he considers the Indian territory to be free land. According to him the frontier is the â€Å"meetingRead MoreResponse to Turners Essay on The Significance of the Frontier in American History501 Words   |  3 PagesSignificance of the Frontier in American History Turners The Significance of the Frontier in American History essay presents the primary model for comprehending American history. Turner developed his notions on the uncovering of the 1890 census that the frontier was coming to an end, that the nation had occupied its continental borders. As Turner discusses in his essay, an extensive era of American development approached an ending, but left enduring marks on American societyRead MoreThe Frontiers of American History in Last Child of the Woods by Richard Louv 581 Words   |  3 PagesIn the second chapter of Last Child of the Woods, Richard Louv makes the claim that there have been three frontiers in the course of American history. The first phase was the original frontier, before the Industrial Revolution. This was the time of the prairie schooner, the cowboy, the herds of bison that were thousands strong. This was a rough, hard time, when man and nature were constantly thrown together. There was wilderness to spare, and people were willing to move West to get to it. Read MoreHistory Of The American Western Frontier Through Narratives, Testimonies, And Primary Documents1350 Words   |  6 Pageshistorical books, this book offers a different angle on viewing the history of the American western frontier—through narratives, testimonies, and primary documents that capture the true voices of the Native Americans. Spanning across the 1860s to the 1890s, Dee Brown tells the plight of the Native Americans after their contact with the American settlers and the United States government. The repetitive stories of the Native American groups during the second half of the nineteenth century— the welcomingRead MoreThe Significance Of The Frontier By Frederick Jackson Turner869 Words   |  4 Pages Frederick Jackson Turner s â€Å"The Significance of the Frontier† is, in his eyes, an accurate depiction of America s development since the Colonial Period. However, Turner s Frontier Thesis fails to discuss the involvement of two very specifi c groups of people, groups that certainly had too much of an effect on the progression of the country for him to safely leave out. Native Americans have a pivotal role in America s history, yet Turner s mentions of them in his thesis are extremely limitedRead MoreRediscovering The American Frontier Of The United States882 Words   |  4 PagesRediscovering the American Frontier Humans have always had a sense of curiosity for the unknown and a greedy fascination for individual growth without seeing the repercussions on others. The United States culminates these qualities not only as a first-world country but it can also be seen from the very beginnings of the nation’s history. The philosophies’ of early settlers in the United States was to have equality between the people, however Americans failed to incorporate this ideology of equalityRead MoreFrederick Turner Jackson: Frontier Thesis1136 Words   |  5 Pagesaround him, Turner chose to become a history professor, devoting his entire life to studying American culture/society while teaching at the University of Wisconsin and Harvard. Constantly having the opportunity to study and observe the development of the â€Å"American†, Turner wrote extensively, about which attributes composed and influenced American democracy, societal values, and image. He published an essay, â€Å"The Signi ficance of the Frontier in American History† about these topics in 1893, and presentedRead MoreEssay On Wilderness And The Frontier1421 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"wilderness† and the â€Å"frontier.† Concepts of wilderness and the frontier have greatly shaped the perception of the West. Perceptions of the frontier and wilderness have changed over time; first, Turner’s frontier thesis described the frontier and wilderness an uninhabited land of opportunity; second, new historians challenged Turner and claimed wilderness and the frontier were merely constructs of society; lastly, concepts of the frontier and wilderness expanded past the American West—into space andRead MoreEssay about Turner Thesis Summary653 Words   |  3 PagesTurner Thesis Summary Throughout history society has to go through many changes that not only affect many of the people but also the areas around the transformation. The main point of Fredrick Jackson Turner’s thesis is what the real essence of America is, and how we’re all influenced by the many changes we have to go through. He believes that American history should not be focused on the extension of European enterprise. The society will have to realize that America will have to be emancipated