Frederick Jackson Turner (1861–1932)

This book is an essay by the author whose main controversial thesis is that the American western frontier is really the only truly American contribution to American history. This book has 12 other essays, either supporting or arguing against Turner's thesis. A minor thesis of Turner is that frontiers, in all countries, are settled by the common people, the discontents. He cites examples of Greece, Rome, and Germany, among others. To me, these essays are really more historiography than history. I purchased this book on Kindle after unearthing the original essay dated 1974 that was too faded to read… (more)

A seminal work in American historical research, Turner's view is controversial today. It certainly was affirmed by the vast majority of Americans when initially published - but we're in the "America has problems" era where all that has passed is subject to second-guessing. Turner's view is easily defended by one's own experience and the experience of the country. We Americans have always maintained the attitude that space is available somewhere for us to expand or to begin again or to start our lives over. It's a fact. Turner only verifies this feeling through research. Those who denigrate Turner's thesis see nothing special in America from any other country - the frontier has had no effect on it. Bull.… (more)

Turner's "frontier hypothesis" is a vital part of American historiography, and it's well set forth in the first few chapters of this book. Too many of the later chapters, though, are simply padding consisting of university commencement speeches and other "popular" writing. And as far as Turner's subscribing to the idea of pax Americana in the concluding chapter, which is partly boosterism for America's intervention into the then-ongoing First World War – well, a couple good correctives would be Frederick Merk's Manifest Destiny and Mission in American History and William Appleman Williams's The Tragedy of American Diplomacy.… (more)