Frederick Jackson Turner and the Frontier Experience Essay Example

he states, is that the American frontier lies at the edge of free, virtually uninhabited land, and the frontier gradually became more and more American the farther west it moved. “Thus the advancement of the frontier has meant a steady movement away from the influence of Europe, a steady growth of independence on American lines,” (20). Not only does Turner express the importance of the frontier as a whole, but he also goes on to describe the different types of frontier and their subtle, yet important, differences.

He says that each frontier has made similar contributions to American character, and each of these areas has had an influence in our economic and political history. He goes on to describe, first, the Indian trader’s frontier. As the Indian trade opened up along the eastern coast, traders started to travel westward. They traded guns, among other things, with the Indians further west, and this gradual westward expansion, Tuner believed, pioneered the way for civilization. Similarly, the rancher’s frontier and the farmer’s frontier had much significance.

The farmer’s frontier, for instance, advanced west so quickly due to the attraction of fertile soil, and salt springs, to name a few. The discovery of salt springs in the west allowed the settlers to expand west and move to other destinations where salt was accessible, besides the coast. Other attractions, like fertile soil, were some of the main attractions that drew farmers to the west. Other ways in which the frontier shaped the United States is Turner’s description of industrial independence and growth of democracy. He states that the United States was dependent on Europe for the bulk of

its supplies.

However, with the advancement of the west, the frontier demanded a need for merchants, and trade with Europe became increasingly difficult. In addition, on the subject of democracy, Turner states that the promotion of democracy in America and in Europe is the most important effect the frontier has had. The frontier is productive of individualism, says Turner, and individualism has always promoted democracy. However, democracy founded on free land and strong individualism has its dangers as well as its benefits. “Individualism in America has allowed a laxity in regard to governmental affairs.

In this connection may be noted also the influence of frontier conditions in permitting lax business honor, inflated paper currency, and wild-cat banking,” (36-37). Not only was Turner’s essay influential of his time, but in fact, even today’s historians are still discussing its relevancy. Glenda Riley, Professor of History at Ball State University, concludes that Turner overlooked an important detail when he wrote his paper. “Like John Adams during the mid-1770’s, Frederick Jackson Turner often failed to ‘remember the ladies,’” (Riley, 60).

Riley presents a valid point: nowhere in his essay does Turner mention the effect the frontier had on women. She explores the possibilities to why he would have done this. The most baffling and surprising realization to this omission from Turner is that, in his personal life, Turner often regarded women with affection and esteem. So, why would Turner ignore the roles of women in the frontier? Riley believes it had to do with the fact that Turner studied and taught in a mostly male dominated environment where his oversight never was challenged, and that he

tended to study the works of early historians all of whom overlooked the role of women.

“Clearly, few influences in his training or professional life pushed Turner toward a scholarly consideration of women or any other specific social group,” (63-64). Another contemporary historian, Martin Ridge, discusses his views on Turner’s thesis. Ridge, an obvious fan of Frederick Jackson Turner, clearly states his admiration for the essay when he declares that Turner’s essay is the most influential piece of historical writing.

At one point, he goes as far as to call it a masterpiece. His views on the subject can be summed up in this one statement from him: “The frontier theory offered a reason for national uniqueness. It provided an explanation for American exceptionalism; the frontier was what made America and Americans despite the multiple origins of immigrants different from Europe and Europeans,” (Ridge, 73). However, not all opinions can be as approving toward Turner’s thesis as Martin Ridge.

For example, Patricia Nelson Limerick, professor of history at the University of Colorado, believes Turner’s theory may have reached its expiration date. She believes that western American historians have a choice of either disregarding one’s own personal experience and accept the old theories that do not necessarily fit every aspect of western history, or disregard the old theories. Her personal experience, growing up in a small town in California, is that Turner’s thesis does not fit her town, regardless of how “you trim and stitch, tighten and loosen,” (Limerick, 109).

She goes on to say that conventional frontier theory never made much room for the far western regions of the United States

(Colorado, Utah, California, etc. ). Any number of central characteristics of that region played either a limited role, or no role at all in Turner’s thinking, she says. Clearly, Limerick has personally found much fault in Turner’s theory, and finds his views to be lacking. In conclusion, Frederick Jackson Turner’s theory of the frontier experience discussed many valid points. It clearly summarized the importance the frontier had in shaping America.

Although his theory may be flawed in some areas, and modern historians may be able to shed more light on issues he did not discuss, his overall thesis brings to light what made (and still makes) America unique and makes her people truly American. “That coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and inquisitiveness; that practical, inventive turn of mind; that masterful grasp of material things; that restless, nervous energy; that dominant individualism, working for good and for evil, and withal that buoyancy and exuberance which comes with freedom these are the traits of the frontier,” (Turner, 40).