Frontier Case

A frontier is often defined as area where settled civilization meets untamed wilderness. The frontier has often been a subject of intense debate. Some people define the old American frontier as the line between civilization and savagery while others prefer to think of it as the area where unique and varied cultures met and assimilated together. Whichever side people choose, it is clear that they agree on one thing: the frontier played a pivotal role in shaping the history and culture of the United States.

In 1890, the US census declared that the frontier was officially closed, and that there was little to no untamed land left in the contiguous United States. After hearing this, Frederick Jackson Turner published a thesis on the importance of the frontier during the development of America. Turner's frontier thesis was officially titled "The Significance of the Frontier in American History" and was given in 1893 at the World's Colombian Exposition in Chicago. The paper reeks of American exceptionalism. Turner's thesis downplays the role of European colonization and instead focuses on how Americans used the frontier to better themselves and shape their own destiny.

Turner's thesis borders on nostalgic because he does not see the frontier as a simple land mass. Instead he looks upon it as a special place where America adapted and changed in order to become the great society that exists today. In the process of capturing the frontier, Americans left their old European backgrounds behind them and became truly American. Some of the qualities that made up the ideal American of the day were independence, self sufficiency and frugality. These qualities came about through the harsh and difficult settlement of the frontier. America's fiery spirit and sense of individualism came about through the capturing of the frontier as well. However, Turner was fearful of the future. The closing of the frontier signaled the end of an era. Values and individualism discovered by the conquered frontier were not easy to come by. The end of the frontier meant that Americans would have to find a new source of culture and development.

Turner's thesis is a very well rounded argument for the frontier cause. There is no doubt that Turner spoke the truth when he stated that the settlement of the frontier was the most important aspect in the development of America as a country and the creation of a unique American culture. However, the way Turner goes about proving his thesis leaves a lot to be desired. Turner attributes the success of the frontier almost solely to Americans and European Americans. He completely disregards the other groups of the United States who also played a key role in settling the frontier. African Americans, Asian Americans and Mexican Americans are hardly mentioned at all. The only other group mentioned as being significant on the frontier are American Indians, but even they are regarded as