safety valve theory apush free sample

2010065789This theory that the West dampened class conflict, while exaggerated, did have some validity because free western land did attract many immigrants to the West who might have crowded urban job markets.safety valve theory57

Governments were unusually democratic for the time. Town Hall Meetings in the New England colonies allowed the community to come together and form legislation. Meanwhile, the VirginiaHouse of Burgesses was (at least in theory) a representative legislative body.

This conflict intertwines with another APUSH theme of America in the World (WOR) but, just to note, the eventual War of 1812was extremely important for our national identity. It is sometimes referred to as the Second War for Independenceand, afterwards, America would never again have to fight for our independence and sovereignty.

Turner also saw the West as a hotbed forprogressive reforms and as a safety valve-- a place of endless opportunity and hope. With the closing of the frontier,Turner argued that America would soon seek imperial goals in new frontiers outside of our own territory. Let’s just say that he wasn’t exactly wrong on that one.

The same concerns over national security that led us into World War I eventually pulled the nation into World War II as well. When Japan bombed Hawaii’s Pearl Harbornaval base on December 7, 1941, America once again saw the great need to defend its safety and honor.

This cause also drew America into two official wars: the Korean Warand the Vietnam War.Many Americans protested this involvement. They questioned why we should risk our safety and the safety of our troops fighting a war that was not ours to fight.