HIST 1311 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: John Wesley Powell, Frederick Jackson Turner, 100Th Meridian West
Document Summary
John wesley powell defined the west by rainfall. So he set it at the 100th meridian (1870"s) . It"s pretty much the middle of the country. The lands to the east of the meridian received more than 20 inches of rain. The lands to the west of the meridian received less than 20 inches of rainfall. Frederick jackson turner defined the west as a process rather than a specific place. The american frontier is responsible for shaping america. America is unique in their outlet of land, so western movement of people shaped democracy and america"s character. Dominated historical thinking about west for centuries. Frontier an area with a population density of fewer than two people per square mile. Today historians view the west as a place and a process. Significance of these two theories- showed similarities and differences in historical views of the west. Gold was discovered in sutter"s mill in 1848.
