frederick jackson turner wrote the significance of the frontier in american history.
who wrote the significance of the frontier in american history?
frederick jackson turner
"the significance of the frontier in american history" is a seminal essay by the american historian frederick jackson turner which advanced the frontier thesis of american history. it was presented to a special meeting of the american historical association at the world's columbian exposition in chicago, illinois in 1893, and published later that year first in "proceedings of the state historical society of wisconsin", then in the "annual report of the american historical association". it has been subsequently reprinted and anthologized many times, and was incorporated into turner's 1921 book, "the frontier in american history", as chapter i.
the significance of the frontier in american history
in the thesis, the american frontier established liberty by releasing americans from european mindsets and eroding old, dysfunctional customs. the frontier had no need for standing armies, established churches, aristocrats or nobles. there was no landed gentry who controlled most of the land and charged heavy rents and fees. frontier land was practically free for the taking. turner first announced his thesis in a paper entitled "the significance of the frontier in american history", delivered to the american historical association in 1893 in chicago. he won wide acclaim among historians and intellectuals. turner elaborated on the theme in his advanced history lectures and in a series of essays published over the next 25 years, published along with his initial paper as "the frontier in american history."
frontier thesis