The American Frontier Heritage

Parlindungan PardedeUniversitas Kristen Indonesia Jakarta

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

American Frontier Values

American Frontier Values

hard-working

Aggres-sive

Egalitar-ian

Inven-tive

free-spirited

Self-reliant

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

AggressiveSince the chance to accumulate wealth was open, competition among the frontiers was high. Therefore, they 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-spiritedIn 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.

EgalitarianThe huge opportunity provided in the Western territory and the limited laws controlling their lives made people become more individualistic, more distrustful of authority, 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.

Self-reliance & Rugged Individualist

• As a consequence of being free from laws and social institutions controlling their life, the frontiersmen lost many of society’s comfort and conveniences. They had to be self-reliant.

• The physically self-reliant, tough, and rugged individual frontiersmen is idealized as the classic American heroes.

• The heroes are differentiated into two types: 1) the man who succeeded fighting the

wilderness (nature) in early western frontier, e.g. Daniel Boone.

2) the Wild-West heroes, cowboys, gunfighters and lawman, e.g. Jesse James and Wyatt Earp, who were skillful in fistfight and gunfight.

The Present American New Frontier Values Realizations

• Outer space exploration• Boosting the economy• Provision of international aid• Provision of national defense• Technical innovation

The Wild West frontier had ended, but the dynamism of American society keep on going in “new frontiers “, such as:

Think and Write!

1. The term “frontiers” could be regarded as “challenges to meet” or “vision to realized”. If Americans take scientific, technological, economical, and political development their current frontiers, what is your present national frontiers?

2. Write an essay in which you compare the features of idealized American vs. Indonesian heroes.