Frederick Turner
Frederick Turner
Influential historian of the United States who advanced the Frontier Thesis that the unique American character was borne out of the frontier spirit of its early settlers.
ProfessionHistorian
Date of Birth14 November 1861
CityPortage, WI
born came carried constant democracy full gained life nor stark strength strong susan time touched
American democracy was born of no theorist's dream; it was not carried in the Susan Constant to Virginia, nor in the Mayflower to Plymouth. It came stark and strong and full of life out of the American forest, and it gained new strength each time it touched a new frontier.
buffalo century civilization farmer file following frontier gap intervals later marching passed pioneer salt single south stand trail watch wider
Stand at Cumberland Gap and watch the procession of civilization, marching single file - the buffalo following the trail to the salt springs, the Indian, the fur-trader and hunter, the cattle-raiser, the pioneer farmer - and the frontier has passed by. Stand at South Pass in the Rockies a century later and see the same procession with wider intervals between.