Jackson Turner Frontier Thesis Statement

The Jackson Turner thesis was basically Turner's thoughts and feelings on the frontier line that had been created by Americans. By reading his thesis he makes it clear that he doesn't agree with the boundary lines that have been set by America. Turner felt that the frontier line symbolized at boundary that you couldn't pass, rather than a symbol of freedom. Most citizens saw the frontier as freedom, that having their own land allowed them to not only be their own person, but make their own decisions. Instead of accepting what the frontier was doing for America, Turner went on to fight that it was a cap on America's freedom stating: "The frontier has meant that every American generation returned to primitive conditions on a meeting point between savagery and civilization". The points that Turner was making were very pessimistic and negative.

The main arguments against Turner's thesis statement pretty much all state the same thing. That the land earned by gaining a Frontier was very useful for all people living on the Western side. Turner continually talks about the frontier land being "free and useless" land that could be benefited somewhere else. However, people like the Indians who have been kicked out of their homes multiple times looked to the frontier with hope and joy, seeing as it offered them a home. The main argument which is constantly reused is that the land earned through the frontier was useful and used to help unite America.

Personally, I disagree with Jackson Turner and agree with those who fight against him. I feel that the frontier offered people a home who didn't have nothing else and gave America the freedom that they dissevered. The frontier gave America a much needed boarder which allowed them space and separation to become their own nation. I think that the frontier was not only a good thing but a needed thing that gave them the confidence they needed to begin making their own decisions and taking their own direction as a separate nation.