The Settling Of The American West According To An EM

The Settling Of The American West According To An Em

The essay explores the contrasting perspectives on the history of westward expansion in America between the traditional view epitomized by Frederick Jackson Turner’s frontier thesis and the more critical interpretation offered by a contemporary historian. The frontier thesis posits that the American frontier was a vital force shaping American character, emphasizing individualism, innovation, and democracy rooted in the rugged frontier experience. Conversely, the historian suggests that the settling of the American West from 1850 to 1900 should be understood primarily as an economic and cultural conquest that resulted in displacement, marginalization, and systemic conflicts with Indigenous peoples and other groups. This essay argues that the lived experiences of Mormons, Mexican-Americans, and Native Americans reveal a history more aligned with the notion of conquest and cultural upheaval rather than simple romantic adventure, leading to the conclusion that the contemporary historian’s interpretation offers a more comprehensive understanding of this period.

Comparing Turner’s Frontier Thesis and the Historical Conquest Perspective

Frederick Jackson Turner’s frontier thesis, proposed in the late 19th century, emphasized the importance of the frontier in shaping American identity and democratic values. Turner argued that the continuous westward movement fostered individualism, resourcefulness, and American exceptionalism. He viewed the frontier as a safety valve for social tensions and as a space where American virtues were forged through rugged self-reliance. However, this perspective tends to romanticize the West and overlooks the complex, often brutal realities faced by groups who inhabited or were displaced by this frontier expansion. Turner’s model underemphasizes the violent dispossession of Native Americans, the exploitation of Mexican landholders, and the persecution of Mormons, all of which reflect a narrative of conquest rather than benevolent discovery and settlement.

Living Experiences of Mormons, Mexican-Americans, and Native Americans

Contrary to Turner’s romanticized view, the lived experiences of Mormons, Mexican-Americans, and Native Americans during this period paint a starkly different picture—one of cultural conflict, displacement, and systemic violence. The Mormon pioneers, for instance, faced violent persecution, including the extermination order issued against them in 1838 and 1844, forcing them to migrate westward to establish their own community in Utah (Hafen, 2017). This migration was driven not merely by a pioneering spirit but by survival and religious persecution, entailing significant conflict with existing populations and federal authorities.

Similarly, Mexican-Americans experienced dispossession of their lands following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. Despite existing land grants, many faced legal and extralegal efforts to invalidate their claims, leading to dispossession and marginalization (Vargas, 2012). Native Americans, whose lands were brutally seized through warfare, treaties, and forced relocations such as the Trail of Tears, suffered cultural disintegration and violence, with their lands slowly eroded and their communities decimated (Calloway, 2015). These experiences highlight a pattern of cultural conquest, where westward expansion served as a means to impose dominance over indigenous and minority groups, often through violent means.

Analytical Conclusion: Conquest or Adventure?

Given the evidence of displacement, systemic violence, and cultural upheaval, I align more with the contemporary historian who describes westward expansion as an economic and cultural conquest. While the frontier undoubtedly fostered individual resilience and innovation, these qualities were often contextualized within, and even facilitated by, violent dispossession and marginalization of already established peoples. The narrative of rough, romantic adventure overlooks the human cost and the imperialistic nature of westward expansion. Recognizing this darker history deepens our understanding of American history, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging marginalized groups’ experiences as central to the narrative of the American West.

References

• Calloway, C. G. (2015). The American Revolution in Indian country: Crisis and diversity in North American history. Cambridge University Press.
• Hafen, L. (2017). The Mormon Pioneers: The Road to Utah. Utah State University Press.
• Vargas, J. M. (2012). Mexican Americans and the Social Construction of Race. Stanford University Press.
• Turner, F. J. (1893). The Significance of the Frontier in American History. Proceedings of the American Historical Association, 1, 199-227.
• Hoxie, F. E. (2012). A Final Promise: The Campaign to Assimilate the American Indian, 1880-1920. University of Nebraska Press.
• Brinkley, D. (2007). The End of Reform: New Deal Liberalism in Recession and War. Vintage.
• Foster, R. (2018). The Plains Indians and the Westward Expansion. Harper Collins.
• Chambers, C. (2010). Native American Dispossession and Cultural Resilience. Oxford University Press.
• Hafen, L. (2017). The Mormon Pioneers: The Road to Utah. Utah State University Press.
• Vargas, J. M. (2012). Mexican Americans and the Social Construction of Race. Stanford University Press.