The impact of the ending of the frontier

• The impact of the ending of the frontier


  The closing of the frontier

  Two developments suggested western frontier was closed:

  The 1890 US Census Bureau declaration- now that West was fully settled there was no longer a frontier. For first time there was no undeveloped land available in US.
• The impact of the ending of the frontier


  The closing of the frontier 2

  The 1893 Turner thesis- An academic historian who argued in conference paper 'The Significance of the Frontier in American History' that the idea of the frontier had been deeply sig in development of USA:

  • Availability of free land acted as safety valve against social disharmony
  • Difficulty of settlement led to self-reliance and independence among Americans.

  It followed then that closing of frontier would have deep sig.
• The impact of ending the frontier


  The significance of the ending of the frontier

  Clearly the Census Bureau and Turner were overstating the case. Much land still unoccupied and vast resources to be developed. Life on the frontier had been so harsh that many settlers had returned East. The nature of its settlement had changed overtime and within diff regions.
• The impact of the ending of the frontier


  The significance of the ending of the frontier.

  The cattle empire- Vast cattle ranches developed in years following civil war based on the open range in which cattle roamed over huge unfenced areas before being driven to railheads by cowboys on long drives. But extension of railroads made long drives less necessary and harsh winters in 1885 and 1887 killed as many as 90% of cattle. Although the industry recovered by importing new breeds, they needed more care and ranches became smaller, enclosed often by barbed wire.
• The impact of the ending of the frontier

  The significance of the ending of the frontier

  Farming- Great Plains became largely an area of farms growing wheat and other crops using machinery such as reapers and threshing machines. Some large-scale farms that were able to afford new technologies and methods started appearing.
• The impact of the ending of the frontier


  The myth of the frontier

  Despite reality of settlement, myth of frontier was that USA always needed new areas to settle and civilise, that Americans were a restless people always seeking a new challenge, and that this and drive made them dynamic. This myth has resonated deeply in American history.
• The impact of the ending of the frontier


  The myth of the frontier 2

  The myth was perpetuated in popular entertainment about the West w/ 'Wild West' shows and rodeos showing cowboy riding and roping skills, novels and, later, films which celebrated wats against Native Americans and the fight against lawlessness (bringing 'civilisation' to a wild area')
• The impact of the ending of the frontier

  The myth of the frontier 3

  But, closing of frontier led to issue of opening of new ones: coincided w/ growth of ideas of imperialism within USA. If internal frontiers no longer existed, the external ones did - in the form of partially and undeveloped countries, many within the American continent. Americans turned to look for these new frontiers.