In his 1893 essay, Frederick Jackson Turner argued that the most important factor in shaping a distinct American identity was:
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Correct answer: The existence of an unsettled Western frontier
Turner believed that the frontier acted as a 'crucible' where European icons and traditions were discarded. This process of settling the wilderness forced the development of uniquely American traits such as self-reliance and individualism.
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More Turner's Frontier Thesis questions
- According to the Frontier Thesis, the frontier acted as a 'safety valve' for American society by:
- What specific event prompted Frederick Jackson Turner to write 'The Significance of the Frontier in American History'?
- Turner argued that the frontier promoted democracy because it:
- Which characteristic did Turner describe as a result of the 'Americanization' process on the frontier?
- Turner's thesis significantly challenged the previously dominant 'Germ Theory' of American history, which held that:
- According to Turner, the 'closing' of the frontier would likely lead to: