When was the frontier thesis written

The second reason has to do with regional history. In Turner's conception, our region, the Great Plains, is important because it was the last frontier. If you want to get Turner's ideas in his own words, he's available on-line from University of Virginia Hypertexts. The Turner Theses Thesis Synopsis Turner Quote The Frontier The frontier thesis is the assertion that the American character, including such traits as democracy and materialism, derived from the frontier experience.

The safety valve thesis is the assertion that the frontier, as a place of opportunity and escape, defused social discontent in America. In his vision, they cannot compete with European technology, and they fall by the wayside, serving as little more than a catalyst for the expansion of white Americans. For Turner, the American West is a progressive process, not a static place. There were many Wests, as the process of conquering the land, changing the European into the American, happened over and over again.

What would happen to the American character, Turner wondered, now that its ability to expand and conquer was over? Use Handout A: Point-Counterpoint Graphic Organizer to answer historical reasoning questions about this point-counterpoint.

Cooper, James Fenimore. Last of the Mohicans A Leatherstocking Tale. New York: Penguin, Turner, Frederick Jackson. New York: W. Faragher, John Mack. Women and Men on the Overland Trail. Grossman, Richard R, ed. Limerick, Patricia Nelson. Limerick, Patricia Nelson, Clyde A.

Milner II, and Charles E. Rankin, eds. Trails: Toward a New Western History. Milner II, Clyde A. New York: Oxford University Press, Nugent, Walter. New York: Knopf, Slotkin, Richard.

Billington, Ray Allen, and Martin Ridge. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, Etulain, Richard, ed. Nelson, Robert. Upcoming Events Explore our upcoming webinars, events and programs. View All Events.

Invest In Our Future The most effective way to secure a freer America with more opportunity for all is through engaging, educating, and empowering our youth. Why sign up? Create Account. Suggest an Edit. Enter your suggested edit s to this article in the form field below. Accessed 12 November In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada.