Rugged Individualism American Frontier

We track the frontier throughout the 1790 1890 period and construct a novel county level measure of to tal frontier experience tfe.

Rugged individualism american frontier.

Historically frontier locations had distinctive demographics and greater individualism. Boatright university of texas there is no more persistent myth in american history than the myth that rugged individualism is or has been the way of american life. This paper shows that the american frontier gave rise to a persistent culture of rugged individual ism. What is rugged individualism.

Not only that but the kinds of traits mountain dwellers demonstrate are quite specific researchers say rooted in the pioneer history of the old west and revealing residual psychological traces of the american frontier mindset and sensibilities. We track the frontier throughout the 1790 1890 period and construct a novel county level measure of total frontier experience tfe. These two traits are encapsulated in the notion of rugged individualism popularized by republican herbert hoover in his 1928 presidential campaign. In 1893 the his torian frederick jackson turner famously argued that the american frontier fostered individualism.

We investigate the frontier thesis and identify its long run implications for culture and politics. Frontier individualism is partly but not entirely explained by selective migration. Historically frontier locations had distinctive demographics and greater individualism. The myth of frontier individualism mody c.

Many influences have entered into the creation of this myth but the man who is chiefly responsible for its general acceptance is frederick. In 1893 the historian frederick jackson turner famously argued that the american frontier fostered individualism. Combination of these two traits characterizes rugged individualism a term popularized by herbert hoover in his 1928 presidential campaign 1 this paper shows that the american frontier shaped a culture of rugged individualism that persisted throughout time. We revisit the frontier thesis and examine its relevance at the subnational level.

This paper shows that the american frontier shaped a culture of rugged individualism that persisted throughout time. First using census data from the 18th and 19th century we establish the distinctive demographicsandhigherlevelsofindividualismthathistoricallycharacterizedfrontierlocations. In a classic 1893 essay frederick jackson turner argued that the american frontier promoted individualism. First using census data from the 18th and 19th century we establish the distinctive.

Using census data and gis techniques we track the frontier throughout the 1790 1890 period and construct a novel county level measure of historical frontier experience. Frontier conditions favored individualism through dif ferentially higher socioeconomic returns and they created expectations of high income growth through effort that fueled opposition to government intervention. The frontier cultivated individualism and antipathy to government intervention. We investigate the frontier thesis and identify its long run implications for culture and politics.