End of the West (College Board AP® US History)

Summary

The closing of the American frontier in 1890 marked a turning point in US history as it signaled the end of the era of Westward Expansion. 

Historian Frederick Jackson Turner argued that the frontier had been a defining factor in shaping American values and feared these would be lost when it closed. His ideas gained widespread attention and sparked debate.

Fredrick Jackson Turner

The End of the Frontier

• In 1890, The US Census Bureau declared the end of the frontier, stating that there were no longer any unclaimed lands within the United States

• This marked a significant turning point in American history, signaling the end of westward expansion

Fredrick Jackson Turner

• In 1893, historian Frederick Jackson Turner published his influential essay, “Frontier Thesis”

• Key ideas of the “Frontier Thesis”:

  • Turner argued that the frontier had been vital in shaping American qualities such as:

    • self-reliance

    • ingenuity

    • resourcefulness

  • The frontier had given Americans opportunities for a fresh start and the ability to reinvent themselves

  • He was concerned that the closing of the frontier marked the loss of a key element of the American spirit

    • Without new lands to explore and settle in, he feared the United States would lose its cultural traits and the opportunity for continued reinvention

• The thesis sparked discussion and controversy among historians

  • Some praised it for capturing the essence of American history

  • Others criticized it for ignoring the roles of Indigenous peoples, immigrants, and women

• Turner’s ideas reinforced the belief in expansion as a key part of American identity