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The Frontier Thesis was first postulated by Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893, in his paper "On the Significance of the Frontier in American History."

The core of his argument is that the constant expansion of the frontier broke down old European mindsets and traditions, particularly the aristocracy, by allowing settlers to make their own futures, without having to compete with landowners who could hand their property down from generation to generation. In Europe, most of the land was already owned by relatively few families, who passed it down to their kids. In America, settlers could escape conditions in the East by moving Westward.

Jackson Turner was concerned that the closing of the frontier in the 1890s would pose a major danger to American culture and democracy. This is where the Frontier Thesis becomes controversial, since, well, we still have democracy. Some social scientists point out other, non-physical frontiers, such as science, as having a similar effect on society.

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Q: Who accredited the frontier as the defining element of American individualism?
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Why did Turner claim that the frontier was crucial to the development and extension of American democracy?

Turner claimed that the frontier was crucial to the development and extension of American democracy because it provided opportunities for individual economic and social mobility. The frontier allowed Americans to escape the constraints of the crowded East Coast and build new lives on the frontier lands. Turner argued that this process of settlement and expansion helped to shape American democratic ideals by fostering a sense of self-reliance, independence, and equality among the settlers.


When was The Significance of the Frontier in American History created?

The Significance of the Frontier in American History was created in 1893.


What are the 5 American frontiers?

the 5 western frontiers are the indian frontier the farming frontier the cattle frontier the mining frontier and the buffalo frontier


When was the end of the American Frontier?

The Census of 1890. With the end of this American Frontier, it discovered so many American frontier collections like clothing & accessories, knives & swords, decor and other weapons.


Why did Turner believe that the American frontier was different from the European frontier?

Turner believed that the American frontier was different from the European frontier because the area was free and open. People could easily settle there. This was unlike the European frontier that was protected by the military.


Why was James denim ore cooper important to the development of the American novel?

James Fenimore Cooper was important to the development of the American novel for his pioneering work in the frontier genre. His depictions of the American wilderness and exploration of themes such as individualism and the clash between civilizations laid the foundation for later American literature. Cooper's most famous work, "The Last of the Mohicans," helped to establish a distinct American literary identity.


What is an African American soldier on the Texas frontier called?

An African American soldier on the frontier is called a Buffalo Soldier.


What is a sentence with the word frontier?

Have you ever crossed the frontier? The American frontier was a beautifully natural but also a very dangerous place.


What is the myth of the west?

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What drew people from the backcountry settlements of the Carolinas and Virginia to the American frontier?

What drew people from the backcountry settlements of the Carolinas and Virginia to the American frontier?


What did James fenimore cooper write how did his work reflect American themes or settings?

James Fenimore Cooper wrote classic American novels such as "The Last of the Mohicans" and "The Deerslayer." His work reflected American themes by exploring the conflict between Native Americans and European settlers, the rugged wilderness of the frontier, and the struggle for survival in harsh conditions. Cooper's writing also celebrated the idea of individualism and the pursuit of freedom in the American landscape.


Who was known for his novels about American subjects and the American frontier?

Washington Irving