Response to Turner's Essay on

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Karina Swenson

Prof. Fitts

American Environmental

History WR100

Response to Turner’s Essay on “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”

        Turner’s “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” essay presents the primary model for comprehending American history. Turner developed his notions on the uncovering of the 1890 census that the frontier was coming to an end, that the nation had occupied its continental borders. As Turner discusses in his essay, an extensive era of American development approached an ending, but left enduring marks on American society. A major notion within his claims of the American frontier is, “the existence of an area of free land, its continuous recession, and the advance of American settlement westward, [that] explain American development.” (Turner, 33)

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        Furthermore, Turner's claim that the frontier experience explains the development of democracy in the United States generates a popular sense of American patriotism and supports a highly cultural appraisal of the frontier. “The most important effect of the frontier has been in the promotion of democracy here and in Europe. As has been indicated, the frontier is productive of individualism.”  (Turner, 34) Over the last century, however, Turner’s thesis received ongoing criticism as well as support for his claims, which has allowed itself in being one of the most controversial topics within American history. Critics denounce Turner’s thesis as being ...

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