The Frontier Heritage

by Achmadyanta Bagus P.

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American Studies

The impact of the American frontier

Self-reliance and the rugged individualists

American macho heroes

Inventiveness and the “can-do” spirit

Equality of opportunity

Despite the fact that frontier happened about a century ago, itis still an obvious evidence in the US until today.

Frontier had become important aspect in shaping Americanvalues.

Frontier experience had been depicted in form of movies and TVshows, featuring a cowboy fighting Indian.

Until this very day, most Americans become aware of the darkerside of the settlement, later known as the time when AmericansIndians were mistreated.

The Impact of the American Frontier

Frontier experience began around 1600s until 1890 when thesettlement happened.

Most frontier usually found in the western part of thecountry, where both land and life were full of ore and ratherprimitive.

Successfully settling one frontier after another, they hadmoved across the continent for 2,700 miles – which made themthink that it was their destiny to control the land.

Later on, Native Americans were given some parts of the land(reservations) though government later broke their promisewhich created a misery for most Indians.

Most Americans are still inspired by the frontier as the value inits original and purest form.

Examples of its value:

Hard working attitude

Competitive race for success

Gold rush

Daily life on the frontier was usually less dramatic, althoughmany stories of frontier adventure depicted life in the hardway.

Individualism, self-reliance, and equality of opportunity hadbecome the most important attribute within the frontierheritage in America.

Americans tend to view it as the model of free individualbecause of less control over individual on the frontier.

Frontier still serves as the essential part for a nostalgic viewof the early Unite States and people in the Western part stillhold these beliefs.

Even though most frontier were free of society’s rules, most ofthem denied many of society’s comforts and conveniences.

It encouraged them to be self-reliant.

- constructed their own houses

- hunting for food

- tended their own gardens

- made their own outifts and household items

Self-reliance and the Rugged Individualists

Self-reliant later become a model of the basic American malehero with rugged individualism.

Means that they were physically tough and severelyaccostumed by the condition of frontier life.

Most of these men were described as follows:

- skilled with guns or other weapons

- need no help from others

- appears as lonely, unmarried man

- strong enough to protect himself

Types of heroic rugged individualist

Man against the wilderness (before the Civil War of the 1860s)

A man who was capable of mastering the harsh challenges of the wilderness

Mainly admired as a survivor and conqueror instead of a fighter

Man against man (lasted from 1860s until the 1890s)

Fought for control of the remaining lands

Commonly known as “the Wild West”

Primarily known as a fighter and a typical defender of good against evil

However, it was later the Wild West hero which had moreimpact on the idea of heroism.

In fact, the Wild West hero even inspired numerous westernmovies.

Wild West hero has helped shape the American idea of “macho”or male strength.

Mostly had the ability to show their strength through physicalviolence.

The model of macho hero was later used in numerous setting;such as soldiers in battle, tough detectives, or policemanfighting crimes.

American Macho Heroes

These heroes are capable of fighting with their fist or guns, oreven both.

Macho male heroes still dominated the Americanentertainment, both movies and TV, as well as in video games.

However, the image of rugged individualist has been criticized for being “too simple”.

It overlook the importance of self-reliance as well as the role played by cooperation in the frontier era.

Second, it was also mostly biased to masculine figure, thus failed to look at the existence of pioneer women and their traits.

It was also emphasized the idea that violence and gun-usage are able to solve problems.

Guns were still used, although not as much as portrayed in the movies where violence were increased gradually.

There are a lot of concern regarding the impact of the violencein movies on young people.

Many young people have become used to violence.

The problem has escalated dramatically

- high school shooting

- inner cities gang members who possess guns

Ironically, the problem was spread to a peaceful suburbs area.

Americans have the right to “bear arms” which is granted bythe constitution.

Recently, there are about 200 milion guns in the US, mostlyown by those who enjoys hunting or gun collector.

Gun ownership increased after the 9/11 incident, which up to50% of the US households.

It reflects the American tendency to take the law into their ownhands as Americans believe that police cannot protect themwell.

It is still debateable whether gun ownership should be limitedor not.

Self-reliance has encouraged the inventiveness as frontierpeople were constantly facing new problems and situations.

Many people from other countries were impressed by theirability to invent something new.

The American pioneers’ inventive skills enabled them to solve aproblem beyond the abilities of common men and women.

Inventiveness and the “Can-do” Spirit

It had finally spread throughout the population, thus becominga national character trait.

Later, it led to American’s “can-do” spirit, believing that aproblem can be solved easily.

Finally, it gave Americans a sense of optimism aboutthemselves and their country, then becoming a source ofAmericans’ pride and inspiration.

The frontier acted as an expression of equality of opportunity inits purest form.

There were a tendency where people were treating each otheron the equal level.

Frontiers were mostly known on their saying: “What’s above theground is more important than what’s beneath the ground”.

It offered a new beginning for those who failed; either inbusiness, politics, or even love, to advance themselves to thewest for success and a better life.

There was always a need for workers on the frontier.

Equality of Opportunity

The gap between the rich and the poor was not as great as those in the more settle regions.

People lived, dressed, and acted alike, they also tend to mix socially as there were never inferior/superior act in the society.

The American frontier may not be the key to American development, but it is certainly one major factor as it strengthen the American ideals of individual freedom, self-reliance, and equality of opportunity.

As the country expanded, these frontier values gradually became American national values.

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