Question

What is the main contrast between Frederick Jackson Turner's and Patricia Limerick's interpretations of the American West?

A) Turner sees the West as a place of opportunity and rebirth, while Limerick views it as a site of conquest and displacement.
B) Turner emphasizes Manifest Destiny, while Limerick focuses on the God-Given right to expand.
C) Turner and Limerick both agree on the simplicity and opportunity of the West.
D) Limerick supports Turner's ideas about the West as a place of constant rebirth.

Answer 1

Frederick Jackson Turner viewed the West as an opportunity for rebirth, shaping American democracy and values, while Patricia Limerick saw it as a place of conquest and displacement, challenging the glorification of the frontier.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main contrast between Frederick Jackson Turner's and Patricia Limerick's interpretations of the American West lies in their fundamentally different perspectives on what the West represented in terms of American progress and values. A) Turner sees the West as a place of opportunity and rebirth, capturing the essence of American character through the frontier's demands for adaptation, innovation, and constants change. This led to the development of American democracy and values, with the frontier seen as an Eden of sorts, where individuals could reinvent themselves and take advantage of endless opportunities.

On the other hand, Patricia Limerick tends to view the West through a more critical lens, recognizing it as a site of conquest and displacement. Unlike Turner, she does not romanticize the frontier but rather highlights the complex realities of western expansion, including the conflicts and struggles it entailed, especially for the Native American populations and other groups affected by the migration and settlement processes.