the frontier

The frontier ideology ironically invited immigration: the land in the west was seen as ‘empty’, only existing for profit.

 Expansion encouraged by the frontier created an incentive for particularly European immigrants to travel with the opportunity of employment and land. The frontier myth shaped expectations for immigrants, helping form what was later known as the ‘American dream’.

Although, immigration was necessary for development, discriminative patterns occurred, shown in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 where the ability for the Chinese to become US citizens was made difficult. As immigration progressed, so did discrimination.

Early 19th century Crusade for Americanization encouraged immigrants to adopt white American cultures over their own, involving methods of assimilation such as, abandoning old languages, citizenship classes and loyalty campaigns. A large contributing factor to the mistreatment of immigrants is the patriotism in which the frontier ideology promoted heavily, causing scepticism on anyone who isn’t a white American. This notion has unfortunately only grown in the modern day as white supremacy remains in the politics of immigration.

the role of identity

The frontier also played a central role in shaping how Americans saw themselves. The idea of rugged individualism, the belief that hard work, self-reliance and determination were the keys to success, was deeply tied to the experience of frontier life.

Theodore Roosevelt was one of its loudest champions, arguing that the challenges of wilderness living built strength of character and made men capable and resilient. John Muir approached the wilderness differently, campaigning for its preservation rather than its conquest, but shared the belief that wild landscapes were fundamental to the American spirit.

The frontier was seen not simply as land to be settled and farmed, but as the place where a distinct American identity was forged. This idea influenced politics, culture and conservation efforts well into the twentieth century, most visibly in Roosevelt’s establishment of the national parks system, the rise of wilderness literature and art, and the growing movement to protect what remained of the natural landscape from industrial expansion.