The Turner Thesis Third Edition: Concerning the Role of the Frontier in American History

This book, part of the Problems in American Civilization series, is in three sections: first, there are two essays by Frederick Jackson Turner, in which he presents his famous theory on how the frontier was the driving force behind the development of America, especially its brand of democracy; second, there are four essays criticizing Turner's theory; and third, four essays in praise of the theory. Turner believed that, up to 1890, the ever-present frontier, that place always to the west that offered free lands to citizens willing and able to work it, created a totally unique citizen - the American - individualistic, independent, and nationalistic. Critics tend to be rankled by Turner's insistence that his theory was all inclusive; for example, it excluded or downplayed European influences in the making of America's character. Much of Turner's theory does seem to explain a lot about this country, but not all. This book presents alternative arguments, pro and con, by important historians (George Wilson Pierson, Walter Prescott Webb, Ray Billington, Louis M. Hacker, among others), and is a good introduction to Turner's ideas and his critics.