Frederick Jackson Turner
“The Significance of the Frontier in American History”
Historical Context:
● Born November 14, 1861, in Portage, Wisconsin - Died March 14, 1932
● Graduated from University of Wisconsin in 1884 with B.A., his M.A. in History in
1888, then his Ph.D. in History from Johns Hopkins University in 1890
● Taught History at U of WI for 21 yrs., later taught at Harvard for 14 yrs.
● “Frontier Thesis” was first published in July of 1893 and read to the American
Historical Association during the Chicago’s World Fair
Main Points:
● Until now, American history has been the history of the colonization of the Great West
▪ “The wilderness masters the colonist.”
▪ “Moving westward, the frontier became more and more American.”
● Expansion = Independence
▪ “…the advance of the frontier has meant a steady movement away from the
influence of Europe, a steady growth of independence on American lines.”
● To be an American is to tame the wild and gain both strength and individuality from it as well as unification
▪ “…to study this advance … is to study the really American part of our history…”
▪ “The frontier promoted the formation of a composite nationality for the American people.”
● The spirit and success of the United States is directly tied to it’s westward expansion
▪ “The legislation which most developed the powers of the national government, and played the largest part in its
activity, was conditioned on the frontier.”
▪ “The growth of nationalism and the evolution of American political institutions were dependent on the advance of
the frontier…”
● The frontier creates individualism which encourages democracy
▪ “…the most important effect of the frontier has been in the promotion of democracy here and in Europe.”
▪ “… the frontier is productive of individualism.”
▪ “The frontier individualism has from the beginning promoted democracy.”
● Americans will never stop their expansion or development
▪ “From the conditions of frontier life came intellectual traits of profound importance…”
▪ “Since the days…of Columbus…America has been another name for opportunity…”
▪ “Movement has been its dominant fact, and…the American energy will continually demand a wider field for its
exercise.”
Historical Significance:
● Turner’s thesis was not as influential when written as it has become today
● Turner’s emphasis on the importance of the frontier in shaping American character has influenced thousands of
scholarly histories
● Turner basically claims the westward expansion had renewed American ideas of democracy and individualism and
therefore shaped the nation as a whole