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The American Frontier Heritage

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This file was used in my CCU class in English Teaching Study Program of the Christian University of Indonesia.

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Frontier HeritageThe American frontier refers to the most Western edge of settlement whichformed the typically more hard-working, aggressive, egalitarian (democratic),innovative, and free-spirited features of the American character because ofits lack of social and political institutions and wilder but more prospectiveenvironment.

American Frontier Values

American Frontier Values

hard-working

Aggres-sive

Egalitar-ian

Inven-tive

free-spirited

Hard Working

To start living in the West, people should work hard to turn the forests into towns and towns into large cities.

Aggressive

Since the chance to accumulate wealth was open, competition among the frontiers was high. Therefore, the became very aggressive.

Inventiveness (Can-do Spirit)The wild-life in the frontier ‘forced’ people to create everything they need to make their life more comfortable. Women knitted clothes, made soaps and aided in the farm. Men hunted for food and made household items. They also constantly faced new problems which demanded new solutions. Such conditions made them inventive and willing to experiment. This willingness to experiment and invent led Americans to the ‘can-do’ spirit, or a sense of optimism that every problem has a solution. These traits made American proud in meeting challenges and overcoming difficult problems.

Free-spirited

In the era of the frontier, there were only a few laws and social institutions controlling people’s life. Consequently, everyone became free in their daily life. But they had to be self reliant in protecting his family and possessions. Having and keeping guns at home is common even until the present day.

Egalitarian

The huge opportunity provided in the Western territory and the limited laws controlling their lives made people become independent and hold equality for any individual to strive for success. Even ex-slaves from the East had similar opportunities. As a consequence, the people became individual and democratic as well.

The Present American Frontier Values Realizations

• Outer space exploration

• Boosting the economy

• Provision of international aid

• Provision of national defense

• Technical innovation

The Wild West land frontier had ended, but the dynamism of American

society keep on going in “new frontiers “, such as: