The Turner Thesis
How the American Frontier Helped
Shape American
Values and Character
Created by Mr. Steve Hauprich for the acceleration and remediation of US History Students.
"The existence of an area of free land,
its continuous recession,
and the advance of American settlement
westward explain American development."
-Frederick Jackson Turner 1893
i.e.
American civilization is unique due to our frontier
experiences where American character and values were
shaped including:
•Rugged individualism…rather than dependence on government
•Democratic values…w/ distrust for institutional hierarchies
•“Can Do” attitude… confidence in success of endeavors
w/ American ingenuity
•American Culture = westward orientation…needs frontier
experiences to remain vital
Definition
Characteristics
…American
civilization is unique
due to our frontier experiences
where American character and
values were shaped …
Turner Thesis
Examples
Non-Examples
Definition
Characteristics
…American civilization is unique
due to our frontier experiences
where American character and
values were shaped …
Rugged individualism…rather than
dependence on government
Democratic values…w/ distrust for
institutional hierarchies
“Can Do” attitude… confidence in
success of endeavors
w/ ingenuity
American Culture = westward
orientation…needs frontier
experiences to remain vital
Turner Thesis
Characteristics
Definition
…American civilization is unique
due to our frontier experiences
where American character and
values were shaped …
Examples
Rugged individualism…rather than
dependence on government
Democratic values…w/ distrust for
institutional hierarchies
“Can Do” attitude… confidence in
success of endeavors
w/ ingenuity
American Culture = westward
orientation…needs frontier
experiences to remain vital
Turner Thesis
•Frontier settlers, farmers
•Fur trappers, guides
•Buffalo hunters, scouts
•Gold rush miners
•Cowboys on the open range
•Frontier town businesses
•Overcoming adversities
•Women getting voting rights
Definition
Characteristics
…American civilization is unique
due to our frontier experiences
where American character and
values were shaped …
Rugged individualism…rather than
dependence on government
Democratic values…w/ distrust for
institutional hierarchies
“Can Do” attitude… confidence in
success of endeavors
w/ ingenuity
American Culture = westward
orientation…needs frontier
experiences to remain vital
Turner Thesis
Examples
Non-Examples
Frontier settlers, farmers
Fur trappers, guides
Buffalo hunters, scouts
Gold rush miners
Cowboys on the open range
Frontier town businesses
Overcoming adversities
Women getting voting rights
•Native American societies + cultures
•Mexican societies + cultures
•Canadian societies + cultures
•Eastern USA cosmopolitan culture
•Eastern USA corporate structures
•European, Asian, etc.. Cultures
•Quitters, wimps, etc…
1890 US Census declared the American Frontier closed !
Turner made his thesis known to a gathering of historians
in Chicago Illinois…pondering the essential question…
…What will keep future American civilization vital ?
American rugged individualism was shaped on the frontier…
…will we lose our grit and determination…and grow soft ???
C
R
A
Z
Y
P
I
O
N
E
E
R
S
!!
Certainly there was much
conflict on the FRONTIER
…American Civilization
was born in a cauldron
of life and death struggles
…to see who would
ultimately control
the land
…Turner was strongly influenced by Darwinian ideology
…yes you could call it “Social Darwinism”
…Rugged individualism
was essential for women
on the American frontier
…survival, overcoming
loneliness, doing chores,
…Wyoming grants voting
rights to women in 1890
upon admission to USA
Art work by Frederick Remmington helped glorify the images
associated with rugged Western American character …
…later in the 1890’s he would help Yellow Journalists
with illustrations to motivate American Jingoists to war w/Spain
Hollywood
cashed in
on American
admiration
for Western
heroic
lifestyles
John Wayne typified
Turner’s virtues in
the frontier experience
American film classics export a “Turner” view of our history and
culture to the rest of the world…resulting in expressions like
“American Cowboy” to describe American leaders
…yet tension lurks in the Turner Thesis…
…what about these other rugged people on the frontier ?
…how were virtues ascribed to some Americans not
also recognized in others?
Works Cited
http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US7/PAPS/images/1890.gif
http://www.rageboy.com/mbimages/cover-clip-420-gunfighter-nation-0806130318.jpg
http://www.suttonscorner.org/images/muledrawnplow_lg.jpg
http://discoveroc.freedomblogging.com/files/2008/02/gold.jpg
http://www.accoutrements.com/images/products/11658.jpg
http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/6/4/8/6/21416846.jpg
http://www.peoplequiz.com/images/bios/Annie%20-922.jpg
http://www.sheilaomalley.com/marilynRiverNoReturn.jpg
http://www.wiu.edu/art/courses/design/remington2.jpg
http://www.artisticdesantafe.com/Remington_Rattlesnake.jpg/Remington_Rattlesnake-full;init:.jpg
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPH-C/T274131~John-Wayne-Posters.jpg
http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/high-noon-DVDcover.jpg
http://www.posteritati.com/jpg/H2/HIGH%20NOON%20GER%20PROG.JPG
http://www.posteritati.com/jpg/H2/HIGH%20NOON%20IT%202X.JPG
http://www.hotmoviesale.com/dvds/20555/1/The-Big-Valley-Season-One.jpg
http://img.webring.com/r/b/bonanza/logo
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/reports4/buffalohunt.jpg
http://aradergalleries.com/books/images/88_Catlin/ca_northamericanindianpor.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2327179254_bb41a97fdd.jpg
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/Buffalo/images/pf026174.jpg