Significance of the Frontier in American History

by Frederick Jackson Turner

In 1893, historian Frederick Jackson Turner presented his landmark paper, The Significance of the Frontier in American History to the American Historical Association. Turner's thesis that the availability of land that could be acquired by anyone willing to work it explains how America developed is a landmark idea in explaining the USA. There is much to be said in favor of his ideas. From the moment that colonies were established by the European powers on the East Coast until the frontier was declared closed in the late 19th century, hardy people migrated westward. There was a natural progression of the early hunters & trappers followed by people who planted some crops but still relied primarily on what they could kill or capture to those who constructed farms. The 1st two groups were transient. The last group was permanent. It was they who established the communities with schools, churches & commerce.
This book starts with an explanation of Turner's classic paper, which is followed by the text that he delivered. While some of what he says in the paper is still controversial, it remains one of the most significant examinations of the forces that drove the development of the USA. It is a paper that is must reading for anyone studying the history of the USA before the frontier vanished at the start of the 20th century.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American, American History, Essays, Classics, The United States Of America

58 pages, paper

Published June 1, 1963

About the author

Frederick Jackson Turner was an American historian in the early 20th century, based at the University of Wisconsin until 1910, and then at Harvard. He was primarily known for his “Frontier Thesis.” He trained many PhDs who came to occupy prominent places in the history profession. He promoted interdisciplinary and quantitative methods, often with a focus on the Midwest. He is best known for his essay "The Significance of the Frontier in American History", whose ideas formed the Frontier Thesis. He argued that the moving western frontier shaped American democracy and the American character from the colonial era until 1890. He is also known for his theories of geographical sectionalism. In recent years historians and academics have argued strenuously over Turner's work; all agree that the Frontier Thesis has had an enormous impact on historical scholarship and the American soul.

Reviews

[Julian Worker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and I feel it explains a lot about the country and the people.

Some words that I enjoyed:

"The striking and peculiar characteristic of American society is that it is not so much a democracy as a huge commercial company for the discovery, cultivation, and capitalisation of its enormous territory. The United States are primarily a commercial society, and only secondarily a nation."

"To the pioneer government was an evil."

"...we have the voice of the insurgent West, recently given utterance in the New Nationalism of ex-President Roosevelt, demanding increase of federal authority to curb the special interests, the powerful industrial organisations, and the monopolies for the sake of the conservation of our natural resources and the preservation of American democracy."

[Ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

These essays try to convey how the frontier drove American history and shaped it. Unfortunately, it starts with the premise that since Americans saw the West as "free land" to be occupied, you can imagine that not much thought was given to the Native peoples living there since they were savages and Americans were obviously civilized.

It only got worse from then on.

Chapters:

The Significance of the Frontier in American History
The Problem of the West
The Significance of the Mississippi Valley in American History
Social Forces in American History

[Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As history, Turner's work can be a bit thin, factually speaking. As a read, it is lively and interesting. As an idea, however, it's incredibly permeating: so that even as you acknowledge the past century of criticism against its prioritization of males or Euro-centrism, you can't help but begin to see the hand of the frontier everywhere in contemporary America. It becomes difficult to *not* read American culture in terms of the pioneer mythos that so shaped it through the first several hundred years of European habitation; and in this respect, Turner's thesis is perhaps most valuable as evidence, rather than explication, of the continued sway of the frontier.

[Sonia ☾]

Fucking boring, man.
It does not even deserve a star. Also, let me just say this: the audacity and hypocrisy.

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This essay was assigned for AP American History at Maine Twp. H.S. South and was used, along with essays by other authors pro and con, to begin a discussion about the American character and what is popularly known as the Turner Thesis.

[Nora Mackay]

incredibly dry. read for essay on imperialism

[Jerrodm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this essay, particularly as I had just finished The Crisis by Winston Churchill (not that one).  The idea of the impact of living in a partially "civilized" environment (I use the term advisedly, as I'm aware of its implications re civilization vs. "savagery" and the normative implications inherent therein--nonetheless, it's the terminology of the author and the dominant paradigm through which most Americans, I think, see the history of westward expansion in US history.) on the broader development of "Americanness" is, I'm sure, not a new one.  After all, the essay was written over 100 years ago. 

But it did have several insights that struck me as novel and important, namely the advance of different levels of development at different rates--hunters, traders, adventurers, ranchers, farmers, etc., and the various levels of social order that each necessitated and developed.  I would have liked to see the author put more flesh on many of the ideas alluded to in this short piece, including the backward influence of the frontier institutions on the more established parts of the country and especially on Europe. 

I also would like to read more about the relationship between territorial expansion of the United States and religious missionary activity.  Could this be a reason for the relatively more expansionist/millennarian tendencies in American, as opposed to Old World, Christianity?  Just a conjecture.

At any rate, a paper that gets you thinking about all kinds of interesting connections, this feels like it could have been published in a sociology journal within the past ten years.  Says the guy who definitely does not read sociology journals.  But it does sound remarkably contemporary to my ear.  I enjoyed it a great deal.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first tentative footholds on the east coast until the frontier was officially declared closed by the Census bureau in 1890, the generally westward movement of settlers largely defined the United States. Neither climate, terrain nor the opposition of the inhabitants could stop it. If you couldn’t make it in society for whatever reason, there was always the option to leave and establish yourself on unoccupied (by the whites) land. It was a compelling lure, even for people that were living in Europe.
This book by Turner is considered a milestone in history as he sets down the principles of what the frontier was and how it evolved from the first whites to stop and build until the structures of civilization such as schools and civil buildings were functioning. In 31 pages, the reader is given a primer on one of the foundational principles of what made the United States what it is. It should be read by all high school students.

[Dianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I understand that it was a big step to consider the frontier and its expansion as an important step in the development of what makes an American, Turner straight up ignored the fact that the expansion of the frontier caused the suffering of Native Americans. I don't care if it's "a product of it's time", I'll criticize it just the same.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always have a major problem with nonfiction books from that time that claim that America was 'free' land just waiting for the settlers.

[Xinyu Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe someday I'll revisit Frederick Turner. Or maybe I read too little of the history; I did not "feel" much about this classics.

[Boone Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turner’s thesis is deeply limited and wrong in crucial respects, as people have been saying for a century. He is surely correct that the environment played a role in the development of American civilization and mores, but he assigns too much value to it and his scope is tellingly narrow. Most obviously, his frontier is concerned only with white male Americans, making the essential American character he defines extremely limited. He further discounts any value to even European-American’s intellectual heritage, to say nothing of the impacts of other peoples on America. Maybe most damning, his whole thesis - that the frontier created a rugged, individualistic American character which served as the wellspring for American democracy - fails to account for the existence of “frontiers” throughout the Americas which nonetheless produced a diversity of state forms and political cultures. Why does Argentina look so different from the United States, if both have undergone the same “Americanizing” process? Environment alone cannot account for this diversity.

So, Turner’s essay is a woefully inadequate explanation. It’s also one of the most influential essays in American historical writing - it’s hard to review it on its own terms, 130 years into the world it made. Thankfully, the prose is moving and Turner’s Romanticism gets the blood pumping. Right or wrong, it is required reading.

[nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. i'm still not sure why i read this but mr frederick jackson turner ate with this one. not a ahistory person at all but the apush references had me giggling kicking my feet and all. its nice to view america in a way that makes me forget that i live in america although i doubt that was his intention. like i am not living in a country where at one point intellect was.. "coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and inquisitiveness; that practical, inventive turn of mind, quick to find expedients; that masterful grasp of material things, lacking in the artistic but powerful to effect great ends; that restless, nervous energy... that buoyancy and exuberance which comes with freedom.." overall takeaway s that the frontier is indeed significant in ush!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Individualism in America has allowed a laxity in regard to governmental affairs which has rendered possible the spoils system and all the manifest evils that follow from the lack of a highly developed civic spirit."

Okay, Marx.

Enlightening essay, significant ideas. I think it is important to read this within its historical context regarding some of the attitudes it presents, but its contribution towards the Frontier Thesis (or, more aptly, the Turner Thesis) is paramount.

[Anonymous4999 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense and informative despite its short length, Frederick Jackson Turner's The Significance of the Frontier in American History is an important essay to understand the American democracy, its citizens and their psychology.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing style and thesis. A must read American book.

[Kylie Miller]

Not rating because it’s a classic historical essay that uses clearly outdated concepts and my purpose in reading it was more as primary source/foundational material.

[maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

:/

[Henry Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many are quick to judge Turner and point out his faults through the lens of today. In the process, they miss some very strong points.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Classic Essays By a Noted Historian

Collection published by Penguin Classics in 2008.

The Significance of the Frontier in American History is a collection of four essays written by noted historian Frederick Jackson Turner from 1893 to 1910. Penguin Classics has re-issued these essays as part of its Great Ideas series.


Frederick Jackson Turner (1861-1932) is featured in just about every U.S. History textbook for his essay The Significance of the Frontier in American History, written in 1893. I am embarrassed note that I had never read this classic essay until I read this collection, although I was familiar with its basic thesis. In this essay Turner notes that the 1890 census determined that as of 1890 there was no longer a definable "frontier." He asserts that this is the beginning of something new for the United States as it has always been defined by its (usually) westward boundary.

Turner notes that the Western settlers came from all parts of the eastern seaboard but created a new culture, and in some ways the definitive American culture, when these diverse groups of settlers brought their old ways of doing and thinking and mingled them with one another to make something new. These settlers are known for their rugged individualism, a more egalitarian mindset (the frontier states were the first ones to lift property requirements to vote and, later, to let women vote) and a demand for government intervention in curtailing the power of corporations (at the time of the essay the Granger movement was quite active). Turner is quite clear that the presence of "free" land waiting for settlement was a major reason for the "self-made" man of the frontier and openly wondered about opportunities for economic advancement in a future with no frontier.

The second essay is The Problem of the West, written in 1896. It describes...

Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2012/...

[Hang On · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's easy to see why this is a classic. It deals with the importance of geography in American history.
To all those politically correct reviewers, the American continent was basically empty. The American settlers were people of the iron age going up against people of the stone age. Who do you think is going to win? And who do you think is more civilized? Ridiculous what they teach these days.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are like me and have built up your knowledge of the American frontier and its development as the nation grew by watching spaghetti westerns, then this book will add a little genuine knowledge without too much effort.

[Orysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Читала в українському перекладі в Україні Модерній. Написана очевидцем подій, розкриває цікаву перспективу на перші хвилі американських іммігрантів, які захоплювали нові землі Заходу і яким чином це вплинуло на американську ідентичність - через теми торгівлі, управління, ментальностей...

[Iqra Choudhry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess the reason why this book is important isn't because Turner's writings are right, but they're an illustration of how Americans have always had amnesia when it comes to their own violent colonialism, and how the Frontier (and all it sweeps under a historical carpet) is romanticised to hell.

[Cecilia Geiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to rate this, because I largely disagree with it. However, I do recognize the value and influence that it had on the way we view history as Americans. I enjoyed the process of reading it and learned from it, despite not entirely agreeing.

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know what I thought this book was going to be about, but I was disappointed & bored with its dry historical tone.

[Matthew William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic American History!!!!

[ag]

ugh