The Significance of the Frontier in American History

Turner employs the term “Americanization” to describe a transformative process that he believes European immigrants underwent on the frontier. This is key to his view of the frontier as a crucible for molding a distinct American character: In encountering the wilderness, settlers shed old European customs and embraced new values rooted in individualism and adaptability. Turner asserts that the frontier experience was instrumental in forging a self-reliant and innovative American ethos, distinguishing the emerging American identity from its European ancestry. Through Americanization, Turner encapsulates the metamorphosis of immigrants into self-sufficient individuals embodying the spirit of a new nation.

A census is an official survey of a population that records various details of individuals, taken every 10 years. In the context of Turner’s essay, the United States census is instrumental in providing statistical data concerning population density and settled land area, aiding in tracing the westward advance of the frontier over time. Turner specifically mentions the 1890 census, which showed the disappearance of the frontier line, offering factual evidence and authoritative validation for his portrayal of steady westward expansion (1). Through the census data, Turner substantiates his thesis about the frontier’s role in American history, establishing a concrete basis for discussing the impacts and progression of frontier settlement.