The frontier thesis was tabled in the year 1893 by Turner. He argued that the growth of the Americans was advanced by the presence of free land, its progressive diminishing effect and the movement of the settlements towards the west (Turner, 2018, p. 1). Turner argued that the European way of life was introduced to the American life who in turn adapted to it and acted upon it. In the beginning, the frontier was the Atlantic coast. As the American settlement adapted and reacted to the European life, a new culture emerged. Near the frontier, the settlement was more European. As one moved to the west, the American way of life becomes more significant.
Fredrick Jackson Turner stated that the American frontier promoted individualism. In addition, he argued that most of the frontier settlement was made of youths, majorly young men. These youths were from backgrounds of low economic and social status (Bazzi, Samuel, Martin Fiszbein, and Mesay Gebresilasse, 2017, p. 7). This was attributed to the hostile conditions of life that were present in the frontier counties. As a result, ladies and aged members of the society shied away from exploiting these opportunities. The frontier was made up of the regions with low population density which is adjacent to the frontier line. Moreover, a frontier inclined immensely on the ideology of a society rather than a marked geographical location. Some of the states that were considered as frontiers included Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas (Bazzi, Samuel, Martin Fiszbein, and Mesay Gebresilasse, 2017, p. 9). From population data, certain inferences were made. Low population density meant that people were alienated from others in a given place. In some cases, it separated members of the federal government from the entire population. In addition, restricted social interaction access to factors of production was also an isolated resource.
The American frontier dates back to the late 18th century and the late 19th century. In 1890 the United States conducted a census; the census report noted that the American frontier had finally come to an end. This is the period that denotes the total frontier experience (TFE) (Bazzi, Samuel, Martin Fiszbein, and Mesay Gebresilasse, 2017, p. 11). Counties which experienced frontier impacts over a longer period were much more inclined to self-reliance and opposition of the government’s interference in socio-economic lives of citizens. Years after the end of the frontier, regions with extensive TFE were characterized by more prevalent individualism. Furthermore, they resisted the efforts of the government to have them redistributed. Counties near the frontier lines experienced more cultural and socio-economic effects compared to those who were relatively far away (Bazzi, Samuel, Martin Fiszbein, and Mesay Gebresilasse, 2017, p. 10).
Frontier individualism thrived since it yielded social and economic benefits to individuals. The anticipation of high earning though more effort to that course made it flourish. The great revolution of workers in the 1877 lead to violent demonstrations in America (Jung, Yeonsik, 2018, p. 87). They relied on support of a working period of only eight hours in a day. Also, the agenda of equality on matters socioeconomic were on the rise.
The American frontier modelled a tradition of rugged individualism that has remained resilient throughout the history of United States. Frontier residents incorporated the various characteristic advantages of new members until a new culture evolved. This was a reactive occasion that was geared at effectively utilizing available opportunities or going about unique challenges (Bazzi, Samuel, Martin Fiszbein, and Mesay Gebresilasse, 2017, p. 1).
Works Cited
Bazzi, Samuel, Martin Fiszbein, and Mesay Gebresilasse. “Frontier Culture: Historical Roots and Persistence of “Rugged Individualism” in the United States.” (2017).
Jung, Yeonsik. “The American Frontier and Edward Bellamy’s Utopian Imagination.” CEA Critic 80.1 (2018): 87-99.
Turner, Frederick Jackson. The significance of the frontier in American history. Charles River Editors via PublishDrive, 2018.