Rugged Individualism American History

The combination of individual liberty in america s founding and the frontier spirit provided the rich soil in which it has grown and developed.

Rugged individualism american history.

Reaching back to the founding rugged individualism has defined american character and uniqueness. Its origins date back to an 18th century fairy tale and the phrase was originally intended as a metaphor for an impossible feat of strength. While the term is often associated with the notion of laissez faire and associated adherents it was actually coined by american president herbert hoover who presided over the emerging great depression. It has been described as the master assumption of american political and economic thought.

The antithesis of masters of scientific method dark age superstition voodoo and triumph of the will in place of logic science math quantitative analysis and boring old facts. The antithesis of rugged individualism that is devotees of dependence mental slavery and the borg collective. The speech later became famous not only for hoover s use of the term rugged individualism but also for his bold claim that the country had come nearer to the abolition of poverty to the abolition of fear of want than humanity has ever reached before. A young professor from the university wisconsin named frederick jackson turner read his social analysis entitled the significance of the frontier in american history.

Rugged individualism derived from individualism is a term that indicates the ideal whereby an individual is totally self reliant and independent from outside usually state or government assistance. Hoover made the argument that rugged individualism differentiated american identity from nations in europe such as russia. Rugged individualism frontier culture in america was first presented as an important historical event at a meeting of the world congress of historians held in chicago in the summer of 1893.