With these words, frederick jackson turner laid the foundation for modern historical study of the american west and presented a frontier thesis that continues to influence historical thinking. Essay about turner thesis summary 653 words bartleby. Concerning the role of the frontier in american history. Undoubtedly, the frontier thesis broadened the view of american historians and provided a new and insightful way of viewing u. The young wisconsin historian frederick jackson turner presented his frontier thesis, one of the most influential theories of american history, in his essay, the significance of the. While you may be asked to write on a series of potential topics, there are similarities in all of the possible subjects. Hold a class discussion in which each group shares its analysis of the turner thesis. The project gutenberg ebook, the frontier in american history. Learn turner thesis frederick jackson turner with free interactive flashcards. The significance of the frontier in american history by. Thesis concerning the role of the frontier in american history, rev.
Turner thesis is dated and provincial george wilson pierson 1904 george wilson pierson, long a professor at yale university, launched one of the first significant assaults on frederick jackson turners frontier thesis. Frederick jackson turner, the significance of the frontier. The following viewpoint, written in 1942, remains a cogent critique. He led the most famous slave rebellion against the white slave owners in 1831. A thesis statement is essential for an academic essay. In his thesis the significance of the frontier in america, frederick jackson turner analyzed the impact of the end of the american frontier on society. Westward spread of american population from 1790 to 1900. Later in the year he was appointed secretary of war by president james monroe. Distribute student handout 5, turners frontier thesis. Turners most seminal piece, the significance of the frontier in american history, commonly referred to as the frontier thesis, challenged the accepted assumption that american culture stemmed from european. The amazing thesis worksheet a thesis is the point of your essay, the idea you wish to explain and defend. Turner thesis 1893 frederick jackson turners frontier thesis history professor, univ. Economic development, industrialization, industries, social aspects, social aspects of industries, social history the way of the thesis. Break down topic and group ideas in clusters use reverse.
The thesis the battles of bleeding kansas directly affected the civil war, and the south was fighting primarily to protect the institution of slavery doesnt work very well, because the arguments are disjointed and focused on different ideas. This statement is simple and almost commonsensical. Nathaniel turner was born on october 2, 1800, in the county of southampton, virginia. In general, critics argued that turners thesis was at. The plantation owner, benjamin turner, and his brother samuel, owned nats mother. Part of this was due, of course, to the merit of turner s writing, and part of it was due to the tremendous personality of turner himself. The settlement of the west by white people the existence of an area of free land, its continuous recession, and the advance of american settlement westward was the central story of american history. The purpose of this lesson is to provide students with a working definition of a thesis statement while also helping them acquire techniques that will aid them in constructing their own thesis statements. Western expansion california historysocial science project. Frederick jackson turner was a famous american historian in the 1890s. A number of historians have sought to find information that either supports or refutes the major principles of frederick jackson turners frontier thesis. What topic, problem, or issue are you interested in. Turners frontier thesis soddy morrill act hatch act bonanza farm oliver hudson kelley the grange farmers alliances munn v. He is best known for his book, the significance of the frontier in.
The turner thesis and the role of the frontier in american. Learn turner frontier thesis with free interactive flashcards. What specific part of the topic are you interested in. Up to and including 1880 the country had a frontier of settlement, but at present the unsettled area has been so broken into by isolated bodies of settlement that there can hardly be said to be a frontier line. The thesis is the backbone for all the other arguments in your essay, so it has to cover them all. American social development has been continually beginning over again on the frontier. Analyzing congressional documents related to the western frontier. The significance of frederick jackson turners frontier thesis. Claims that turners thesis has become useless as have many subsequent theses. A thesis statement is one or two sentences, usually placed at the end of your introduction that describes the main focus of your essay. Frederick jackson turner, american historian known for the frontier thesis, which held that the american character was decisively shaped by conditions on the frontier, the settling of which engendered such traits as selfreliance, individualism, inventiveness, restless energy, mobility, materialism, and optimism. Wisconsin historical society is collaborating with jstor to. Thus american development has exhibited not merely advance along a single line, but a return to.
Frederick jackson turner s frontier thesis 1752 words 8 pages. The turner thesis in 1893, the american historical association met during that years worlds columbian exposition in chicago. Frederick jackson turners frontier thesis in 1893, at the 400th anniversary of the appearance of columbus in the americas celebrated in chicago, frederick jackson turner presented an academic paper entitled, the significance of the frontier in american history in this essay, turner proposes that, the existence of an. In 1955, rosa parks initiated a nonviolent encounter with segregation by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in montgomery, alabama. I the significance of the frontier in american history. Part of this was due, of course, to the merit of turners writing, and part of it was due to the tremendous personality of turner himself. The turner thesis, expanded, interpreted, and circulated by his many followers, was accepted almost without reservation or criticism for more than a generation. Below are some of the findings of these historians. Footnote in address as reprinted in turner, the frontier in american history, 1920 1 in 1817 john c. Do some background research to find out more about it. The frontier thesis or turner thesis, is the argument advanced by historian frederick jackson turner in 1893 that american democracy was formed by the american frontier.
Illinois interstate commerce act populist party populism bimetallism gold standard william jennings bryan cross of gold speech guided reading questions. Read the turner thesis and in a paragraph or two 250300 words answer the following. Decoding the turner thesis thus american development has exhibited not merely advance along a single line, but a return to primitive conditions on a continually advancing frontier line, and a new development for that area. Statement, 9 integrating evidence into your writing, and 10 writing a. Frederick jackson turners frontier thesis of american.
In a recent bulletin of the superintendent of the census for 1890 appear these significant words. By reading turners essay and discussing this phenomenon, students learn why. P897 a collection of essays, by major frontier scholars, debating turners thesis and its impact on twentiethcentury america. A thesis is a controlling idea about a topic that the writer is attempting to prove. Census bureau had announced the disappearance of the contiguous frontier line.
This brief official statement marks the closing of a great historic movement. The existence of an area of free land, its continuous recession, and the advance of american settlement, explain american. Perhaps the best statement of this argument comes from hofstadter. The significance of the frontier in american history national. The study of green grass is popular among agrostologists. Up to our own day american history has been in a large degree the history of the.
The resulting bus boycott and a successful supreme court lawsuit demonstrated the effectiveness of nonviolent. Notes on frederick jackson turners frontier thesis for mr. Frederick jackson turner, a university of wisconsin historian, saw great significance in this and in 1893 propounded his nowfamous frontier thesis before the american historical association. Choose from 41 different sets of turner thesis frederick jackson turner flashcards on quizlet. In 1955, rosa parks took the responsibility for initiating a civil rights confrontation when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in montgomery, alabama. Choose from 17 different sets of turner frontier thesis flashcards on quizlet. Jackson turners brief essay, the signifi cance of the.
Frederick jackson turner november 14, 1861 march 14, 1932 was an influential american historian in the early 20th century. Frederick jackson turner was a prominent american historian who lived during americas progressive movement of the early twentieth century. The turner thesis and the role of the frontier in american history by julian pleasants in july, 1893, at the annual meeting of the american historical association, a young professor from the university of wisconsin, frederick jackson turner, read a paper on the significance of the. In 1893 he presented his frontier thesis to the american historical society. There are zillions of ways to write a good thesis sentence, but, in general, a thesis contains three elements. He wrote a very influential article called the significance of the frontier in american history. No less familiar than the turner thesis itself, of course, are the com.
Distribute worksheet 2, and instruct each group to use it as they assess the meaning of the passage from turners essay. Turner frontier thesis flashcards and study sets quizlet. In the 1893 essay turner spoke of the atlantic coast as a frontier of. Exploring the western frontier with the records of congress. He stressed the processthe moving frontier lineand the impact it had on pioneers going through the process. These activities are awesome for stations and for individual learning, and will have students whipping out perfect thesis statements in no time. Claims that turner s thesis has become useless as have many subsequent theses. Nat turner was an africanamerican slave born in southampton county, virginia. What is frederick jackson turners frontier thesis answers.
Turner is considered to be the founder of western history. Adobe acrobat installed on your computer to access the student worksheets. The frontier thesis is the assertion that the american character, including such traits as democracy and materialism, derived from the frontier experience. Kuhns ap us history course at mundelein high school. Turner thesis frederick jackson turner flashcards and study. Turner required this closing from the frontier being an chance to mirror upon the influence it had worked out. In general, critics argued that turner s thesis was at. The first generation of historians who followed turner seemed to jump on the bandwagon and work to support the thesis. Thesis statement practice for informative informational expository explanatory writing should be fun and engaging. P897 a collection of essays, by major frontier scholars, debating turner s thesis and its impact on twentiethcentury america. Mar 18, 2014 notes on frederick jackson turner s frontier thesis for mr.
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