Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Defining and Responding to Turner’s Frontier
Let’s start class by reflecting on the excerpt from Frederick Jackson Turner’s essay that you read for today. One of the ways that Turner defines the frontier is this: “In this advance [of westward expansion], the frontier is the outer edge of the wave—the meeting point between savagery and civilization” (16). In your own words, explain what you think Turner means here. How does he define the frontier? How does this definition of the frontier relate to what it means to be an American? What group(s) of people does this definition celebrate? Who does it diminish or overlook? Ultimately, how does Turner’s discussion relate to your own understanding of the American West?
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Turner makes an interesting point about the frontier. Often times were given information describing the characteristics of our American frontier but never really what the frontier constitues. Is it a characteristic of our nation? Is it a building block? What is this massive idea that forges the creation of our nation as a whole. Turner says it is the meeting point between savagery and civilization. This definition is short but gives us a deeper meaning of the western frontier. It describes the struggle and savage behavior because what explorers were finding was new unsettled land leaving it open for any kind of discussion. When no rules are present and many men are in the mix, savagery is bound to be an issue. Though with savagery comes the concept of civilization. Once all of the fighting and discussion has settled about what this new land is "supposed" to be like, we are faced with the new settlement and creation of our country.
ReplyDeleteThese two ideals can be a description of what it means to be an American as well. We take the road less traveled and find new "frontiers" to engage in and learn about and in these situations create something new. We don't follow the trail, but make our own, just as the frontier was created.
Many groups can fit into this idea of creation and civilization. Today our country as a whole takes responsibility to create new things. During the time the frontier was being established it was mostly men of immigrant groups, though these groups over time came together to form their own significant heritage as Americans. Sadly, during this time period women were highly overlooked, often along for the ride with their husbands.
Conclusively, Turners description of the American west is close to that of my own. I agree that the frontier created the idea of hard work and originality. Also the idea of democracy and stubbornness. Many characteristics of the American people are derived from our first settlements along the western frontier.
I believe that in his quote, “In this advance [of westward expansion], the frontier is the outer edge of the wave—the meeting point between savagery and civilization” (16), Turner is saying that the West is in a stage where it has not yet caught up to modern ideals and traditions, however it is not set back in the the times of its origins either. As the frontier has moved westward, Turner states, it has become more American. He describes the frontier as being an expansion that provides new opportunities and a rebirth for American life. Overall he is portraying the idea of a fresh start for the people of the frontier. From my understanding, it seems that the idea of a frontier and the American West were the first true aspects of a purely American culture. The ideas of the West are uniquely American and have little relation to European origins.
ReplyDeleteTurner is talking here about the "wave" of westward expansion. America started out in the east with European influence. As the country grew, it became more and more "American". As it expanded people got away from the European lifestyle and created their own settlements based on the goals of the American people.
ReplyDeleteTurner defines the frontier as "a fortified boundary line running through dense populations." What Turner explains is significant about the American frontier is its edges represent free land. This relates to what it means to be an American. To enter this country and expect to receive equality by passing through the boundary. It represents the pursuit of new opportunities, but also the American struggle to adapt to the wilderness of the west. This definition supports the early settlers of our time, who literally had to explore new territory, create new political, economic and social institutions, and had to create a land of freedom from ground up. It also celebrates Americans throughout history though. Every American has the chose to pursue opportunities, to explore not only the physical world, but the intellectual world. The idea of freedom is applied to citizens throughout history, in pursuit of creating unique American situation. This does however overlook minority groups, and those persecuted throughout American history who have not had the same opportunities for freedom and choice that the majority has. This understanding is valuable because it relates the physical exploration of American settlers (the formation of this country) to the goal of Americans through out time (the pursuit of happiness).
Turner means that the frontier is the barrier between the known and unknown. On the east side of the frontier, there are people, cities, industry, government, etc. Everything is well-known. On the other side of the line, the terrain is foreign. People didn’t know who or what was in the west. He defines the frontier as the line of rapid and effective Americanization. There was always opportunity and movement across the country. The frontier relates to what it means to be American because he says that we will always be looking for more places to change and “Americanize”, and that we have always been looking for something new and different and fresh. This definition celebrates the Europeans and the colonists that have been altering the country, yet it diminishes the groups of Native Americans and groups that were native to the land before the colonists arrived. Overall, Turner’s discussion makes me think that the west was unfamiliar and uncivilized to the first Europeans who came here.
ReplyDeleteI think what Turner means by this is that the frontier is the close edge of the unknown; it is something that it wild and savage, and certainly challenging, yet it is close enough for those brave enough to go out and conquer it. When population was in dangerous of rampant expansion, or when unemployment was high, the desperate and the restless could go on and seek fortune in the frontier. It offered an opportunity for America to keep growing, and Turner seemed to believe that it was inevitable that Americans would conquer this frontier. It kept changing and shifting as settlers kept moving it and as civilization kept expanding. He mentions that this makes America unique, since we had so much more to conquer, and that instead of a European boundary, is “lies at the hither edge of free land” and that the term is an “elastic one, and for our purposes does not need sharp definition”. He fails to mention that the land was not free; there were settled tribes of Native Americans already established there, but then again, the American settlers did not, for the most part, seem to take them into consideration either. The definition really only celebrates the Euro-American settler who believed it was his manifest destiny to go out and conquer this wild, untamed continent. It didn’t really mention the exploitations of laborers, minorities, women or Native Americans.
ReplyDelete“In this advance [of westward expansion], the frontier is the outer edge of the wave- the meeting point between savagery and civilization” (16). Savagery is fierce, violent, and uncontrolled behavior that results within humanity. I think what Turner means in this quote is that the west balances both a civilized community but still displays savagery between the communities. Within the Laramie project, both Russell and Henderson convey this idea of “savagery” in the way they brutally murder Matthew Shepard. However, Laramie is still a civilized small town that lies in the great plains of Wyoming. Turner defines the frontier as a “safety valve” on the pressures of urban population growth and the frustrations of industrial labor, then the “closing” of that same frontier would presumably eliminate opportunities for the restless masses to seek their fortunes- or at least the land for a family farm-out west. He talks about the frontier being purely “American,” “at first the frontier was the Atlantic coast. It was the frontier of Europe in a very real sense. Moving westward, the frontier became more and more American” (Turner 17). The political, economic, and social results of this westward expansion reveal the true American part of our history. A quote I liked in the article was, “that practical, inventive, turn of mind, quick to find expedients; that masterful grasp of material things, lacking in the artistic but powerful to effect great ends; that restless nervous energy; that dominant individualism, working for good and for evil, and withal that buoyancy and exuberance which comes with freedom- these are traits of the frontier, or traits called out elsewhere because of the existence of the frontier”(18). This definition of the frontier relates to what it means to be an American because all of these traits and qualities coincide with American values and beliefs. Americans are supposed to be individuals, striving for freedom and rights. These ideals are very similar to those of the American creed, and although many of us our hypocrites in holding up our values, these values still remain essential to the “American way of life.” Turner’s discussion relates to my own understanding of the American West because the west is this broad aspect, this land of plains, and space, that is purely American.
ReplyDeleteI think when Turner says this quote that he is talking about the wild west. The west in which the "savages" or the outcast, overlooked, Native American people are having their land taken from them. Some like Turner says this is a positive thing, something to celebrate. He thinks this because, it is expansion, it is material gain. Yet, I believe it to be selfish. Yes, they did work hard to conquer the Native Americans but still they had so many advantages over the Indigenous people. I think this quote though does relate to what is meant when said to be American. I think this because it is exploration and freedom for the people who went and conquered the west. It is new and it is something that can be built up into something great. I think that the western civilization is shown as American because this is where the normal immigrant moved, this is where everyone moved, and everyone worked together to grow and build the west and America as a whole. Thus, the American west does have importance on the whole American outlook. Hard-working and growing which America is known for.
ReplyDeleteWhat Turner meant by the edge is the difference in lifestyles of those who were previously occupying the west (the Native Americans) and those who invaded the west (the land-hungry Americans). His definition of the frontier and how we settled in the west relates to the popular American ideals.
ReplyDeleteNo where else in the world is freedom and individualism weighed so heavily upon. Here, we are encouraged to take charge of our lives. We are told that anything is possible, "reach for the stars." We have always had this mentality because we initially broke away from England with these ideals. And they have brainwashed us through the decades into believing that, as Americans, we are invincible. Perhaps this is why migrating to the west occurred as it did.
Turner celebrates our sense of free will and determination. However, when he does so, he overlooks the Native Americans. As Americans, we are taught that if we want to achieve our goals, we must work our way to the top-no matter who we step on trying to get there. Unfortunately, we stepped on the Native Americans to reach our goal of migrating to the west. In retrospect, we might reconsider calling the Native Americans savages. For, the way in which we took control of their land could be considered savage.
Some may celebrate with Turner. Yet, others might question whether or not our American ideals truly serve us well. Are you proud to be an American or ashamed of it, or are you somewhere in between?
When Tuner states, “In this advance [of westward expansion], the frontier is the outer edge of the wave—the meeting point between savagery and civilization” (16)." I think this means that we might have to get rid of the savagery of the people that are not part of the American culture to create what we believe civilization should be. We are stepping on the little people in order to get on top. Also, I believe that this statment means that we are trying to keep out those who are not part of our culture but at the same time learn from them and utilize different resources that can better our country.
ReplyDeleteI think the frontier in Tuner's eyes mean that we are adapting the expanision of the west and trying to delvope as much as possible and creating civilization on an unknown land that no one has yet experienced.
In his article, “The Significance of the Frontier, Turner turns the normal approach to history and the importance of the frontier upside down. According to Turner, the frontier is the place where developed society meets the undeveloped, where complex economic and political systems meet primitive conditions. As these encounters take place, the frontier is what impacts and modifies such systems. With each advance into a new undeveloped area, what it means to be American was redefined over and over again. This fluidity meant new opportunities for those who were willing to take the risk. Turner’s definition emphasizes the colonists and the frontier settlers and the daring individuals who took on the challenges of the wilderness. He diminishes the influence of European life and the effects of the early immigrants on Americanism. He believes that the frontier was the place that allowed the immigrants from so many different origins to become fused together as Americans. This is a different approach to how I’ve thought about the American West. In school, it was generally the view that society imposed itself on the West, rather than Turner’s view that the frontier with its challenges and opportunities really defined and formed America.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Turner means that the frontier has no limits and is a place for change. The frontier is not bound by the laws of the land and is not bothered by the rules of civilization. It is a place where anyone can be free and can do what they want. This is what it means to be an American. Turner says, "The frontier is the line of most rapid and effective Americanization." The frontier was made fore Americans because of the countless possibilities. The avid resourcefulness of each and every American is brought out in the frontier. Knowledge has no boundaries and goes back to the basics in the frontier. The frontier allows the innovative people to flourish and the closed-minded struggle. The frontier is what separates Americans from the rest of the world and makes America the place that I always want to be. I understand the American West as a region defined by its natural surroundings and its beutfy. Therefore, Turner's definition makes a lot of sense to me because of the freedom from civilization that landscape has and the savagery that is present but not overbearing.
ReplyDeleteFrederick Jackson Turner becomes very blunt when describing westward expansion and the American frontier. In one aspect, he is going for the American dream which is to work hard, move and settle to have your own. On the other hand he depicts the West as the, "meeting point between savagery and civilization." Where the West, during his time, was a savage place uncivilized and ran by Native Americans. The other side was Americans who represented civilization. Turner's explicit racism towards Native Americans is most notable from this statement in his essay to promot Westward Expansion. Turner also defines this "frontier" as the place that Americans need to conquer in order to expand as a society and a country. This directly relates to my own understanding of the American West because Turner emulates the generic western cowboy who settles in the West and is set in his ways to wipe the indigenous natives that have lived peacefully for generations. It is to say that the American West was dubbed that name unfairly when in actuality it was western North America overridden by American expansion.
ReplyDeleteWhen Turner says, “In this advance [of westward expansion], the frontier is the outer edge of the wave—the meeting point between savagery and civilization”, I believe that he is trying to define the frontier as being ruggedness intertwined with modernization to make it American. This definition relates to what it means to be an American because being American is to embrace change while considering personal background and cultural history. Americans hold traditions close, and some American traditions involve savagery, hard work, violence, and pain that our ancestors endured in order to establish the frontier. This article definitely overlooks indigenous people, but I believe that when learning American history, this is quite common. The belittlement of Native Americans is a recurring theme within articles written by Americans while trying to capture westward expansion, probably because people know that the Native Americans are the rightful owners of North American land, and it was unfairly taken from them. My understanding of the American West is that it the land was taken, not earned, but many people still don’t realize that fact. Clearly Turner doesn’t.
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