What significant impact did the frontier have according to Frederick Jackson Turner's thesis?

Frederick Jackson Turner’s thesis, presented in 1893, posited that the American frontier was crucial in shaping the national character and fostering qualities such as independence and individualism. Turner argued that the experience of settling the West cultivated a spirit of democracy and self-reliance, as individuals faced and overcame the challenges of a rugged and untamed landscape. This frontier experience helped to mitigate class divisions and provided opportunities for social mobility, thereby reinforcing their belief in American exceptionalism.

The idea that the frontier encouraged personal independence and shaped a distinctly American identity is a foundational aspect of Turner’s argument. He believed that the closing of the frontier marked the end of a significant era in American history, in which the opportunities inherent in the frontier fostered a unique set of values and social characteristics that defined American culture.