The expansion of the American frontier played a large part in the history and making of the United States, but how big was that role? Historian Frederick Turner felt that the American frontier played the largest influence on our country's history.
             Turner also believes that America as a country died over 100 years ago as published in "The Significance of the Frontier in American History". Turner felt that when the frontier was gone, America was as well. He also drew many factors to the rapid disappearance of the frontier and a larger step for independence and individual rights in America: 1.) The frontier gave Americans a new beginning. They were able to start a new life in a new place. It also allowed many of them to erase their pasts and start with a clean slate. 2.) America was a rapidly growing country and needed more room for all of its energy. The timing of the expansion was impeccable to the growth of America. 3.) Expansion made America independent in many ways. A largely visible way was lessening its dependence on Europe for goods and supplies. As a vast population of America moved west, European countries had a more difficult time delivering its goods and supplies to the Pioneers. These points make Turner's beliefs well received. Much of the information that Turner included was so obvious once it was said; yet it never would have caught my attention if I were to sit down and think of reasons for the American frontier playing a significant role in history.
             I found the most intriguing of Turner's points to be that Americans did not shape the land, the land shaped Americans. This is something that most people would not like to hear because in a sense it is telling them that they are not in control of their own life. Turner proved this point by acknowledging how when the Americans moved westward, they adapted the native ways that worked best for the region. This shows that the Ame
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