Frederick Jackson Turner Frontier Thesis

The late nineteenth century was a pivotal moment in American history. During this time, the Industrial Revolution transformed the nation, railroads had dissipated all throughout the country, and economic classes began to form, separating the wealthy from the poor. One of the wealthiest men of this generation was Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who fled to America to make millions off the railroad, oil and even steel businesses. Carnegie is considered one of the richest men in history, and even with all that wealth he decided to give back to the community. As a matter of fact, Carnegie donated most of his funds to charities, universities and libraries in his last few years.

During the course of the early and mid-1800s, the United States of America went through a rapid transition of economic, social, and territorial changes. Immediate alterations to its political system continued to be a constant focus in development as well. Likewise, the early and mid-1800s was the same time period when the Market Revolution and the idea of westward expansion –also known as the Manifest Destiny– sparked an interest towards many working Americans. After a few decades of winning independence from British sovereignty, America already had its fair share of progress and of great leaders. But to be a leader who ideally understood the voices and needs of the so-called “common man” (The American Promise, 284) , a term that was coined

During the 19th century, the people of the United States of America had a belief that they had a justifiable right to expand its territory; otherwise known as manifest destiny. This belief of inevitable conquering land in North America led to conflicts with the indigenous people already occupying the land. One of the conflicts the Americans had with the indigenous people of North America was the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) in which Mexico fought for their territory that the Americans thought was rightfully theirs in the attempt to expand west. There may be several reasons to the cause of the Mexican-American war, however, the two major causes of the war were consequences resulting from the Texas War of Independence and the American’s desire

In 1893 Frederic Jackson Turner a historian, introduces the “Frontier Thesis” in Columbian Exposition, he explains from this thesis about the importance of American history. Frontier thesis remarks the end of a great historic society. Because Frederic Jackson argues that continuous western settlement had an extraordinary impact on American social, political and economic development throughout 20th

George Washington owned several books and articles that discussed the abolishment of slavery which were all located in his personal library. Many pieces in the collection had been given to him as gifts, meaning there were personal relationships between Washington and the authors, many of which being from across the Atlantic world. These texts are one of the only few clues available to historians when researching Washington’s view on abolition and the dialogue between authors. Collecting pieces of evidence in Washington’s texts is how François Furstenberg, history professor and author of Atlantic Slavery, Atlantic Freedom: George Washington, Slavery, and Transatlantic Abolitionist Network, presented this research article.

Jedediah Smith One of the many important people alive during the Westward Expansion was a man named Jedediah Smith. He was from a large family, two parents and 12 siblings. As a child, he lived in New York, that is, until he turned 12, when he moved to Erie County. Eventually, his family decided to pack up, once again, and head to Ohio. Though his time spent there was never documented, it is believed that Smith got a fairly good education and got a job as a clerk.

During the 1840s and later through the Civil War Reconstruction Era, western expansion faced a wave of American interest. Many people thought the west was overflowing with wealth and opportunities. The land was advertised and sold by the government in an attempt to increase the nation’s farming productivity and territorial expansion. Land legislation promised to reward young farmers and families for their successful Midwest homesteads. This legislation included the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Timber Culture Act of 1873.

In the mid-1800s the United States continued to undergo prompt changes that had made the country distinguished since it formed. Primarily during this time, the U.S started to expand and grasp more of the idea of so called “manifest destiny” which meant belief that God intended the American nation to reach all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The Americans, now determined in the belief that it was their right as well as their fate to expand, supported the nation’s entitlements for new lands. Throughout most of the 1840s, the United States and Great Britain mutually managed Oregon, and Utah was part of Mexico. This did not stop Americans from settling in either area.

J. Hector ST. John De Crevecoeur tells the story of the western frontier from the perspective of a European American finding a new found freedom for exploration. He compares American experiences with the old country and welcomes emigrants from many countries in Europe to participate in the navigation of the frontier. The exploration of the frontier he equates to equality among those that may have been oppressed by Europe’s Kings: “Here are no aristocratic families, no courts, no kings, no bishops, no ecclesiastical dominion, no invisible power giving to a few a very visible one.....”

Most people in the United States would say that the ability to adapt is simply a part of the American way of life. Americans have always relied on this trait since the early days of British colonization to present times. It can be demonstrated in all facets of life. Adaptability was the reason the old frontier was populated; people adjusted to the unfamiliar climates, conditions, and landscapes. New immigrants were able to adapt to the culture and thrive in the United States, and they continue to.