The Turner Thesis

1. The Turner Thesis How the American Frontier Helped Shape American Values and Character Created by Mr. Steve Hauprich for the acceleration and remediation of US History Students.

2. "The existence of an area of free land, its continuous recession, and the advance of American settlement westward explain American development." -Frederick Jackson Turner 1893 i.e. • American civilization is unique due to our frontier • experiences where American character and values were • shaped including: • Rugged individualism…rather than dependence on government • Democratic values…w/ distrust for institutional hierarchies • “Can Do” attitude… confidence in success of endeavors • w/ American ingenuity • American Culture = westward orientation…needs frontier • experiences to remain vital

3. Definition Characteristics …American civilization is unique due to our frontier experiences where American character and values were shaped … Turner Thesis Non-Examples Examples

4. Definition Characteristics …American civilization is unique due to our frontier experiences where American character and values were shaped … Rugged individualism…rather than dependence on government Democratic values…w/ distrust for institutional hierarchies “Can Do” attitude… confidence in success of endeavors w/ ingenuity American Culture = westward orientation…needs frontier experiences to remain vital Turner Thesis

5. Characteristics Definition Rugged individualism…rather than dependence on government Democratic values…w/ distrust for institutional hierarchies “Can Do” attitude… confidence in success of endeavors w/ ingenuity American Culture = westward orientation…needs frontier experiences to remain vital …American civilization is unique due to our frontier experiences where American character and values were shaped … Turner Thesis Examples • Frontier settlers, farmers • Fur trappers, guides • Buffalo hunters, scouts • Gold rush miners • Cowboys on the open range • Frontier town businesses • Overcoming adversities • Women getting voting rights

6. Definition Characteristics …American civilization is unique due to our frontier experiences where American character and values were shaped … Rugged individualism…rather than dependence on government Democratic values…w/ distrust for institutional hierarchies “Can Do” attitude… confidence in success of endeavors w/ ingenuity American Culture = westward orientation…needs frontier experiences to remain vital Turner Thesis Examples Non-Examples Frontier settlers, farmers Fur trappers, guides Buffalo hunters, scouts Gold rush miners Cowboys on the open range Frontier town businesses Overcoming adversities Women getting voting rights • Native American societies + cultures • Mexican societies + cultures • Canadian societies + cultures • Eastern USA cosmopolitan culture • Eastern USA corporate structures • European, Asian, etc.. Cultures • Quitters, wimps, etc…

7. 1890 US Census declared the American Frontier closed !

8. Turner made his thesis known to a gathering of historians in Chicago Illinois…pondering the essential question… …What will keep future American civilization vital ?

9. American rugged individualism was shaped on the frontier… …will we lose our grit and determination…and grow soft ???

10. C R A Z Y P I O N E E R S !!

11. Certainly there was much conflict on the FRONTIER …American Civilization was born in a cauldron of life and death struggles …to see who would ultimately control the land …Turner was strongly influenced by Darwinian ideology …yes you could call it “Social Darwinism”

12. …Rugged individualism was essential for women on the American frontier …survival, overcoming loneliness, doing chores, …Wyoming grants voting rights to women in 1890 upon admission to USA

13. Art work by Frederick Remmington helped glorify the images associated with rugged Western American character … …later in the 1890’s he would help Yellow Journalists with illustrations to motivate American Jingoists to war w/Spain

14. Hollywood cashed in on American admiration for Western heroic lifestyles John Wayne typified Turner’s virtues in the frontier experience

15. American film classics export a “Turner” view of our history and culture to the rest of the world…resulting in expressions like “American Cowboy” to describe American leaders

16. …yet tension lurks in the Turner Thesis…

17. …what about these other rugged people on the frontier ?

18. …how were virtues ascribed to some Americans not also recognized in others?

19. Works Cited http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US7/PAPS/images/1890.gif http://www.rageboy.com/mbimages/cover-clip-420-gunfighter-nation-0806130318.jpg http://www.suttonscorner.org/images/muledrawnplow_lg.jpg http://discoveroc.freedomblogging.com/files/2008/02/gold.jpg http://www.accoutrements.com/images/products/11658.jpg http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/6/4/8/6/21416846.jpg http://www.peoplequiz.com/images/bios/Annie%20-922.jpg http://www.sheilaomalley.com/marilynRiverNoReturn.jpg http://www.wiu.edu/art/courses/design/remington2.jpg http://www.artisticdesantafe.com/Remington_Rattlesnake.jpg/Remington_Rattlesnake-full;init:.jpg http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPH-C/T274131~John-Wayne-Posters.jpg http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/high-noon-DVDcover.jpg http://www.posteritati.com/jpg/H2/HIGH%20NOON%20GER%20PROG.JPG http://www.posteritati.com/jpg/H2/HIGH%20NOON%20IT%202X.JPG http://www.hotmoviesale.com/dvds/20555/1/The-Big-Valley-Season-One.jpg http://img.webring.com/r/b/bonanza/logo http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/reports4/buffalohunt.jpg http://aradergalleries.com/books/images/88_Catlin/ca_northamericanindianpor.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2327179254_bb41a97fdd.jpg http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/Buffalo/images/pf026174.jpg