The so-called frontier thesis is problematic because, among other things:
A) it argued the frontier was an insignificant force for American history
B) it exaggerated the homogenizing effect of the frontier environment and virtually ignored the role of women
C) it suggested the frontier could endure limitless expansion
D) it claimed Indians did more to shape the frontier than white settlers
E) it said the American frontier experience was identical to the experiences endured by all developed nations

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The frontier thesis exaggerated the homogenizing effect of the frontier environment and ignored the role of women. It presented the West as a masculine world where women had little influence or impact.

Answer: C
 The frontier thesis suggested that the frontier was an inexhaustible resource that could endure limitless expansion. This idea proved to be false as the frontier eventually reached its limits and had to be replaced by other forms of expansion.

Answer: D
 The frontier thesis claimed that Indians played a significant role in shaping the frontier. However, this assertion has been challenged by later scholarship which argues that Indians were often marginalized and pushed aside by white settlers.

Overall, the frontier thesis is problematic because it oversimplified a complex historical process and ignored the diversity of experiences and perspectives that existed on the frontier.

The So-Called Frontier Thesis Is Problematic Because, Among Other Things