Question

"Read the quote from Turner to the right. According to this passage, what does it mean to ‘conquer the land’?

A) To bypass it in favor of better lands farther away.
B) To make it productive and profitable.
C) To destroy its original inhabitants.

Select the option that correctly represents the meaning of ‘conquer the land’ as mentioned in the passage."

Answer 1

To 'conquer the land' in the context of the Turner passage means to settle, develop, and transform the land into productive, profitable territory, symbolizing progress and the American spirit.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the passage by Turner, to ‘conquer the land’ means to settle it, improve it, and make it productive. It involves surveying, farming, and transforming wilderness into profitable lands, paving the way for the development of mills and towns. This process was viewed as the embodiment of progress and the American pioneering spirit. The term conquest, as defined by Merriam-Webster, not only encompasses the act of acquiring land by force but also through mastery over a terrain by overcoming its natural obstacles and making it hospitable for human settlement and economic development.