How Have American Historians Viewed the Frontier?

Evolution of the American Frontier

American historiography has historically wrestled with defining the 'frontier.' The concept evolved through the acquisition of three major regions: the Trans-Appalachian West (envisioned as a land of hope and assimilation), the Louisiana Purchase (a vast territory initially viewed as an exotic space for the relocation of Native populations), and the Pacific Coast/Interior (acquired via conquest or Manifest Destiny). These disparate acquisitions created conflicting interpretations of what the American frontier represented.

The Turnerian School: Frontier of Hope

From 1893 until the mid-1980s, Frederick Jackson Turner's 'Frontier Thesis' dominated. Turner argued that the frontier was the defining factor in American development, transforming European settlers into a new, democratic, and distinctly American people. This school focused on the frontier as a positive, triumphant experience, a narrative that remained the standard in American education for nearly a century.

The New Western History: Frontier of Conquest

Beginning in the late 1980s, historians like Patricia Nelson Limerick challenged the Turnerian view. The 'New Western History' emphasizes themes of exploitation, conflict, and the marginalization of Native Americans, Mexicans, and Asian immigrants. This school views the West as a region shaped by federal overreach and corporate rapacity, shifting the focus from national triumph to a legacy of conquest.

The Unique Case of Alaska

Alaska remains an anomaly in frontier studies, largely ignored by both Turner and early 'New Western' historians. Acquired from Russia in 1867 without major military conquest, it was initially perceived as 'worthless' (Seward's Folly). Conservation efforts and late settlement patterns have contributed to its identity as the 'Last Frontier,' leaving it as a significant subject for future historical evaluation regarding how it aligns with or diverges from the continental American experience.