Reading Comprehension Questions: Jackson's Frontier And Turn

Reading Comprehension Questions Jacksons Frontier And Turners1

Reading Comprehension Questions: Jackson’s Frontier – and Turner’s 1) Discuss Turner’s thesis. Why was it a “significant” thesis? What prevailing assumptions did it challenge? 2) How is the thesis a product of Turner’s time? 3) What was the topic of Thomas Abernethy’s research? What did his research conclude, and what was its effect on Turner’s theory? ATF Questions 1 Jackson’s Frontier – and Turner’s Jackson 1 Jackson 2 Jackson 3 Jackson 4 Jackson 5 Jackson 6 Jackson 7 Jackson 8 Jackson 9 Jackson 10 Jackson 11 Jackson 12

Paper For Above instruction

Andrew Jackson’s frontier era and Frederick Jackson Turner’s influential thesis about the American frontier represent pivotal moments in understanding American history and identity. Turner’s "The Significance of the Frontier in American History," presented in 1893, advances a comprehensive argument about the role of the frontier in shaping the American character and democracy. This paper explores Turner’s thesis, its historical significance, the assumptions it challenged, its contextual background, and the impact of Thomas Abernethy’s research on Turner’s ideas.

Fredrick Jackson Turner’s thesis posits that the American frontier was a fundamental driver in shaping the nation’s social, political, and economic development. Turner argued that the existence of a frontier line—territory beyond settled areas—offered a constant outlet for the American spirit of adventure, individualism, and innovation. According to Turner, the frontier experience fostered democracy, instilled American values, and contributed to national unity. The thesis’s significance lies in its framing of the frontier as the defining element of American history and identity, emphasizing that the closing of the frontier marked a crucial turning point with profound consequences for the future of the United States.

Turner’s thesis challenged several prevailing assumptions of his time. Before his work, many historians viewed American history primarily through political or institutional lenses, focusing on government actions, constitutional development, or prominent political figures. Turner’s emphasis on the geographic and environmental factors as pivotal determinants of societal development represented a shift toward environmental history and a broader conceptualization of American growth. It contested notions that American exceptionalism was solely rooted in institutions or moral mandates, instead highlighting the importance of territorial expansion, westward movement, and the availability of new lands in shaping national character.

The thesis was also a product of Turner’s historical context, emerging during a period of rapid territorial expansion and economic growth in the late 19th century. The American frontier was considered "closed" following the 1890 Census, which declared that American settlement was no longer a frontier zone. This scenario prompted Turner to consider how the disappearance of the frontier would influence American national identity, leading him to develop his thesis. The closing of the frontier fascinated contemporary audiences and policymakers who were concerned about the future direction of America without its pioneering land frontier.

Thomas Abernethy’s research provides a valuable counterpoint to Turner’s thesis. Abernethy investigated the processes of American expansion and development, focusing on the institutional and economic aspects of territorial growth. His research concluded that expansion was not solely driven by frontiergeist or environmental factors but was significantly shaped by political decisions, economic interests, and institutional developments. Abernethy’s findings suggested that the American frontier was a complex phenomenon involving more than just frontier experience and individualism, thereby complicating and enriching Turner’s broader narrative. His work had an effect on Turner’s theory by emphasizing the diversity of factors contributing to American expansion and recognizing the importance of institutional and economic forces alongside environmental influences.

In conclusion, Turner’s frontier thesis offered a compelling narrative about the significance of the frontier in shaping American democracy and identity, challenging older political-centric views. It was a product of its time, responding to the socio-economic environment of a closing frontier. However, subsequent research like Abernethy’s showed that frontier development was multifaceted, involving a mixture of environmental, institutional, and economic factors. Together, these perspectives have enriched the understanding of American history, highlighting the complexity behind territorial expansion and national development.

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