| QUESTIONS/SUMMARIES | NOTES: |
| What is the argument for the thesis?
2. Specific Passage to Support the Argument In the passage, there is a statement that states that …”it strips off the garments of civilization and arrays him in the hunting shirt and the moccasin. It puts him in the log cabin of the Cherokee and Iroquois and runs an Indian palisade around him” (Turner, 2).
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The article “the significance of the frontier in American history” by Fredrick Turner argues that the countries existence politically, economically, and socially stemmed from the West. The nation advanced through frontiers, that is, chunks of free land. The people moved further West with each generation, which led to a need to adapt to the various environments. Unlike many other regions, America’s development did not occur in a single line instead;, they caused an effect in previously primitive areas, which led to continuous growth. The move to the West was inevitable as long as there was free land as it presented multiple opportunities.
The statement shows the inevitability of American expansion as the people were curious. They were seeking freedom after shaking off their colonizers’ shackles that had significantly impacted their way of life. They had to leave behind the civilization they were accustomed to in such of new horizons. It occurred through the interrelation with other cultures, especially the native Indians, among other settlers. In the long run, a new and more formidable civilized society forms “the new America” the constant move to the West marked a deviation from their colonizer’s influence.
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Summary/Reflection:
While many historians offer a different perspective on the history of the American expansion, Turner believes that the movement to the West, instead of placing boundaries on the people, a method popular to Europeans, has contributed to the countries’ culture and politics. The frontier theory was not a new phenomenon as the Europeans also expanded to the Atlantic coast (Turner, 3). The interactions of several frontiers and generations, acted as a stepping stone for the next forming a cycle. For instance, native Indians rebelled against the new settlers, which led to the creation of military powers that would require food and settlements fostering permanency and a need for further movement to identify more peaceful areas. The frontier theory depicts a multicausal model of history that identifies the interaction of cultures, economics, geographies, and politics. In his article, Turner goes ahead to explain the frontier process occurred in three waves. First, came the pioneers; this group is independent; they use the land available but do not own them. They cultivate and hunt for their benefits and can only relate with people of the same interests. However, this group tended to move forward when others built roads, rails, bridges, and the region became crowded. They would move and repeat the process repeatedly but left their distinct mark on the areas they had occupied. The second wave comprised of emigrants who purchased land and built infrastructures in pursuit of permanency. They exhibited a return to civilization but in a new and distinct Americanized way. The last group was the capitalists. They used the previous settlers as foundations to create cities and enterprises signaling development. A state of nationalism developed, and this had significant influences on political institutions as they were shaped by the constant movement and continuous learning curve. Nationalism also brought to light the need for democracies. According to Turner (7), the process was not without challenges as the East tried to restrict the frontier through education and religion. The frontier period ended, marking the closure of America’s first part of history.
References
Turner, Fredrick. “The Significance of
the Frontier
in American history
1893” Wisconsin Societal History.