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Frederick Jackson Turner (1861-1932) was a renowned American historian, credited with shaping the understanding of the American frontier's role in shaping the nation's character. A professor of history at the University of Wisconsin and later at Harvard, Turner is best known for his seminal work 'The Frontier in American History' (1920), which compiled his essays on the frontier thesis. His influential theory posited that American democracy was formed by the American frontier, emphasizing the continual westward movement and the closing of the frontier. Turner's ideas quickly became a fundamental concept in the historiography of American history, introducing the notion that the diversity of the expanding frontier fostered individualism and democracy. His work has been scrutinized and debated extensively, with some critics challenging his ideas, while others expanded upon them. Despite the controversy, Turner's contributions remain foundational to the study of American history and his literary style is characterized by a narrative that intertwines analytical insights with the examination of societal evolution. In the academic realm, 'The Frontier in American History' continues to be a reference point for discussion on American exceptionalism and the complex dynamics of frontier expansion.
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