According to Frederick Jackson Turner in his paper, The Significance of the Frontier in American History, the conditions of frontier life produced many intellectual traits. He described these character traits as, "...acuteness and inquisitiveness; that practical, inventive turn of mind, quick to find expedients...that dominant individualism, working for good and for evil, and withal that buoyancy and exuberance which comes with freedom." It is due to these traits that the settlers of the frontier …showed first 75 words of 1263 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1263 total…better advantage of this than the settlers. Basically, the frontier led to a series of chain reactions which have formed the United States we know today geographically and socially (among other ways). It is due to these traits that the settlers of the frontier moved west when given the opportunity. Those who did not go west were also affected by these traits since what was suitable for the Westerner could be harmful for the Easterner.