jan 1, 1893 - Frontier Thesis

Description:

Publication of "The Significance of the Frontier in American History"
- Frederick Jackson Turner argued 300 years of frontier experience had shaped American culture by promoting independence and individualism
- Frontier broke down class distinctions, fostering social and political democracy
- Challenges of frontier life caused people to be inventive and practical, but also wasteful in their attitude toward natural resources
- Turner saw the availability of free land on the frontier as a safety valve for harmless releasing discontent in American society . . . the frontier had always held out the promise of a fresh start

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