The Frontier in American History

The Frontier in American History is a collection of works related to the history of American colonization of Wild West. Turner expresses his views on how the idea of the frontier shaped the American being and characteristics. He writes how the frontier drove American history and why America is what it is today. Turner reflects on the past to illustrate his point by noting human fascination with the frontier and how expansion to the American West changed people's views on their culture. Contents: The Significance of the Frontier in American History The First Official Frontier of the Massachusetts Bay The Old West The Middle West The Ohio Valley in American History The Significance of the Mississippi Valley in American History The Problem of the West Dominant Forces in Western Life Contributions of the West to American Democracy Pioneer Ideals and the State University The West and American Ideals Social Forces in American History Middle Western Pioneer Democracy

Frederick Jackson Turner (1861 - 1932) was an American historian during the early 20th century, based at the University of Wisconsin, and then Harvard University. He was known primarily for his 'Frontier Thesis'. He trained many PhDs who became well-known historians. He promoted interdisciplinary and quantitative methods, often with an emphasis on the Midwest.