How The West Became The Frontier Of United States

How does Turner explain the recurring need for communication and transportation along the American frontier?

The Westward expansion began for the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. For $15 million dollars, President Thomas Jefferson purchased from France 828,000 square miles, including most of 14 current states, thus doubling the size of America. Jefferson now had the land, but how to populate it was another story. On a three year expedition, Lewis and Clark were sent by Jefferson to explore the lands to get a better understanding of the geography and resources of the West. During the 1830s to 1840s, to promote further territory expansion, the “manifest destiny” came into play – which was the idea that America was destined to expand across the entire country westward. Quickly, the nation expanded.

The American West is one of the most famous and important part of the American history. The American West or another name the American Frontier started off in the late-1700 and ended in mid-1940. Although that part of history ended, but the influence and the old west culture is still around today. So let get into the history of the American West, of what made the West what it is and how all the forces molded the West.

During the years 1790-1860 many changes in the nation were occurring in the values of Americans and in their different societies. The vacant, immeasurable land in the western frontier enabled a shift of change from social, political and economic conformity to more individual techniques and beliefs away from governmental traditions imposed more in the east coast of the nation. As different factors forced people to migrate west in the country it changed not only society and values of people in the west but also the east, transforming into a whole new affluent society. As people started to realize the nations grandness and what the property consisted of the rise in nationalism became very dependent on these enlightened ideas and visions.

Throughout the 1800’s there were more and more Americans that had moved onto the frontier of the West coast. The people of the United States believed they were destined to have their land stretched from the Pacific Ocean (the west) to the Atlantic Ocean (the east); from sea to shining sea. This settlement came from the fact that the west not only had an abundance of fertile land for farming, but it had such a great abundance of gold and mineral mining available. The Americans also believed that this was a way (and chance) to spread their beliefs! Many people saw the West as a new beginning, so they decided to head West and begin this journey. This is what the Americans believed they were destined to do… The rapid settlement of the West was caused by the great desire of the American

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the idea of the far west captivated many. The chance to begin life anew attracted thousands of individuals and families alike to move out west and escape their current life, which was usually full of poverty and for some, full of discrimination. As the west expanded and grew into an important part of the United States, westerners found it somewhat difficult to survive with important resources going scarce. Although the

The westward expansion of America involves many events that are important to history as a whole. It took place during the Age of Imperialism which began during the nineteenth and twentieth century. Westward expansion was a major event that took place throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In the early half of the nineteenth century, the westward movement arose numerous issues involving social class, gender roles, and slavery by both political and social means.

In the beginning around 1812, many Americans ventured to the west and also encouraged many to follow by using rhetoric’s and laws. The first group of Americans that reached the west brought with them the rise of manufacturing in New England while increasing mobility though the nation. New machines were invented and new treatments for disease were discovered because of their expansion to the west their agriculture and medicine improved. Painting, writing and acting developed as well and inspired many as being a symbol for the American identity which was rough and rugged individualism willing to face new challenges.

The west was home to the Native American tribes, who lived on millions of acres of pure land. They respected the Earth and its creatures; they made sure the ecosystem was sustained. The Native Americans earned that land. Imagine if you

“In the spring of 1865, the Civil War was finally over” (Tindall 704). While the actuality of the war may have ceased to exist any longer, the aftermath was in full swing. The south was facing a total reconstruction, but it was to be decided how that reconstruction would be performed. Would the South rebuild to its previous way of life or would it be transformed into a place of equality where all Americans would be welcome, no matter their race? The transformation of the southern states and its inability to produce a stable way of life would promote the expansion of America to the west. The west offered a promise, a fresh perspective to life that both whites and blacks deeply desired. The available, cheap land up for grabs, the promise of riches,

The Western Frontier is an important part of American society that captures the archetypal curiosity that ever American has in search of new opportunities. Frederick Jackson Turner’s essay titled, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” explains the relevance of westward expansion in the late nineteenth century. Turner describes the western frontier as the “meeting point between savagery and civilization” because once one crosses the boundary from the East to the West; the laws of civilization no longer apply. The West is characterized by its lawlessness and violence as the settlers struggle to stake their claim on the rough terrain (Turner). Two western classics that are complete polar opposites—Willa Cather’s My Antonia and Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian— both depict the civilized but also the savage aspects of the western frontier. The difficult and ever changing geography of the American West shapes each character in both stories, since the American West is a harsh and tedious environment, it allows Darwin’s principle of survival of the fittest to be tested. In My Antonia, the protagonist, Antonia, is shown to the reader through the memory of Jim Burden as his childhood sweetheart. Antonia represents the captivating and peaceful beauty of the western prairie even as it endures harsh conditions. On the other hand, Blood Meridian portrays a horribly savage image of the West, where one is in a dog eat dog world and must choose to kill or be killed. McCarthy

The west part of the United States of America began from Mississippi to the Pacific Coast. Also, it covered from northern plains to the Rio Grande. The Americans were the last to arrive to arrive and explore the land. Previously other countries had already arrived and explored it. Of course, before all of these countries had arrived, the Indians lived here. They knew the land well and believed they were created from it. Eventually, everyone would take an interest after hearing stories about gold, a passage, and people of need of religion. This is how the west was explored and settled.

When asked to define the true meaning of “the West” it is very easy to get tricked because, as it turns out, it is not defined by its geographical location. It is not in fact the political, economical, and cultural characteristics of the North American continent, but the opposite. Western civilizations involves societies that are placed opposite geographically, in the East. The culture dates way back all the way to the beginnings of Greek civilization. It is truly unique and its influence can be found in all new cultures, culturally, politically and economically.

In the book The Frontier In American culture the two authors Limerick and White try to address the many different topics throughout the book and try to appreciate their influence in American history and culture. The authors of the book address the different topics with the help of many different artifacts from the Newberry Library, also the authors show their attitudes toward the old American west and explain to us how we know and understand that time era.

American frontier is the border area of settlement of their descendants of American counterpart. The American civilization was established a long time ago, but even later the American West held a great attraction for some of the men. However, the frontier began when colonists settled on the east coast of the continent the 1600s.The values represented the American frontier that are important such as Self-Reliance and Rugged individualist, American macho, Inventiveness, and Can-do-spirit. Each value represents the American frontier. For a long time, the experience for the Native American became an important part of American frontier life. However, “American frontier was romanticized in popular motion pictures and network shows that included cowhand saints battling Indian scoundrels”. Little consideration was given to the terrible story of what truly happened to the Native Americans, otherwise called the American Indians. Today, most Americans are more careful of the darker side of the settling of the landmass, when a great many American Indians were killed, their territories taken, and quite a bit of their way of life was crushed. “There is a restored interest for Indian societies, and the Smithsonian now has an exhibition hall dedicated to Indian society in Washington, D.C”.The two heroes of the American frontier, Daniel Boone, and James P. Beckwourth represent the challenges they faced in the wilderness and the American values that were