Similarities Between Manifest Destiny And The Agrarian Myth
In 1893, Frederick Jackson Turner wrote The Significance of the Frontier in American History in a response to the 1890 US Census, which announced that a contiguous frontier line was disappearing. He argued the importance of the frontier, and how all previous American generations have taken to advancing the frontier line: expanding west and developing the lands. Turner’s theory also reflects upon two important concepts, Manifest Destiny and the agrarian myth. These concepts and the frontier theory are very interconnected, with the concepts being the causes for the movement of the frontier. First and foremost, Manifest Destiny and the Frontier Theory are both similar in their end goals and means of accomplishing the goals. There were three
basic themes of Manifest Destiny: the American people and their institutions had special virtues, the mission of the US was to civilize and tame the west in the image of agrarian America, and it was the American people’s duty and destiny to accomplish the previous statement. Manifest Destiny created an era of North American continental expansion. It embodies the statement that the frontier was “the line of most effective and rapid Americanization.” As Americans pushed west, they converted the prairies, Native Americans and even Mexican land into their own. There were even laws passed that helped the Americanization of the frontier. The Homestead Act gave around 600,000 families 160 acres in the west to settle for free. All they had to do was live on and improve the land for five years. Manifest Destiny epitomized a moving frontier line and the rapid expansion into the western US. Furthermore, the agrarian myth provides support that the frontier is where the most development and Americanization take place. In the Agrarian Myth, the independent farmer is more superior to the paid worker, and farming is the most essential way of life. However, once all the land in an area is used up for farming, one must expand to keep the agrarian way of life going. That is done through the frontier, where the rich and fertile soils of the plains are perfect for new farms. Thus, most of the Americanization, and development of the land occurs on the frontier. All in all, both Manifest Destiny and the Agrarian myth are reasons why Americans pursued the frontier so much. They both were impactful ways of thinking that gave reason for the expansion to the west, along with came the Americanization of the areas affected.
basic themes of Manifest Destiny: the American people and their institutions had special virtues, the mission of the US was to civilize and tame the west in the image of agrarian America, and it was the American people’s duty and destiny to accomplish the previous statement. Manifest Destiny created an era of North American continental expansion. It embodies the statement that the frontier was “the line of most effective and rapid Americanization.” As Americans pushed west, they converted the prairies, Native Americans and even Mexican land into their own. There were even laws passed that helped the Americanization of the frontier. The Homestead Act gave around 600,000 families 160 acres in the west to settle for free. All they had to do was live on and improve the land for five years. Manifest Destiny epitomized a moving frontier line and the rapid expansion into the western US. Furthermore, the agrarian myth provides support that the frontier is where the most development and Americanization take place. In the Agrarian Myth, the independent farmer is more superior to the paid worker, and farming is the most essential way of life. However, once all the land in an area is used up for farming, one must expand to keep the agrarian way of life going. That is done through the frontier, where the rich and fertile soils of the plains are perfect for new farms. Thus, most of the Americanization, and development of the land occurs on the frontier. All in all, both Manifest Destiny and the Agrarian myth are reasons why Americans pursued the frontier so much. They both were impactful ways of thinking that gave reason for the expansion to the west, along with came the Americanization of the areas affected.