Monday 11/27/17

Welcome back from our long weekend!  Today in class we will be discussing the concept of the frontier and an important 19th century American historian, Frederick Jackson Turner.  This is a bit of an historiography lesson as well as a history lesson.  The concept of the frontier is important for the late 19th century and the impact of its "closing" is equally significant to the landscape of modern America!  Below you will find our agenda, homework, and resources for the day.

Objective:

1. Analyze Turner's Frontier Thesis through review of guided questioning and group discussion.

Agenda:

1. Warm-Up #1
   Prompt: The Frontier
   What is the concept of “The Frontier”? 
2. Discussion/Activity: Frederick Jackson Turner
   1. EdPuzzle Activity 
   1. Questions
      1.What is the frontier? In your description provide 2 or more examples of the frontier at different points in time throughout U.S. History.
      2.Why does Fredrick Jackson Turner believe the 1890 census is "proof positive" of the end of the American Frontier?
      3.On page 2 of the reading excerpt, what is something that Turner believes that the Frontier provided to Americans?
      4.On page 5, Turner makes mention of the relationship between the Frontier and the U.S. legislative branch. What is this relationship that he describes?
      5.Page 6 describes the impacts of the Frontier on the eastern U.S. and Old World Europe. Describe 2 or more of the impacts that the Frontier had on society according to Turner.
       
      What to do?
      1.Discuss the answers to the questions in table groups (5 min)
      1.Make sure you are referencing information from the text!!!
      2.Share out responses as a whole class (5 min)
      3.In your groups can you look through the excerpt and find ALL 5 of Turner’s arguments about the Frontier? (5 min)

What were Turner’s FIVE main arguments in his Frontier Thesis?

1.The existence of the frontier led to the formation of a “composite nationality”

2.The development of the frontier led to a decreasing dependence on England

3.The existence of a frontier motivated Americans to quickly develop their country

4.The frontier experience caused Americans to be more democratic than members of other societies

5.The existence of the frontier served as a “safety valve” for the discontents of society

What do you think about Turner’s main arguments?

Homework:

1. Chapter 17 Quiz block ONE!!
2. Second Research Paper due December 4!
3. Outside Reading Project due December 15!