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The wilderness masters the colonist. __ It strips off the garments of civilization and arrays him in the hunting shirt and the moccasin __ In short, at the frontier the environment is at first too strong for the man. He must accept the conditions which it furnishes or perish, land so he fits himself into the Indian clearings and follows the Indian trails __ - Historian Frederick Jackson Turner,Significance of the Frontier in American History,essay excerpt 1893 Turner said Americans "must accept the conditions which it [the frontier] furnishes, or perish." What did he mean? Americans are weak and should know their place in the world. Americans must change the physical landscape of their territory if they are to endure it. Americans should experience harsh conditions to get tougher. Americans should work tirelessly to survive the dangers of the wilderness to succeed as a nation.

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Turner meant that Americans must adapt to and embrace the challenges of the frontier environment in order to survive and thrive as a nation. This adaptation involves accepting the harsh conditions of the wilderness, including adopting the clothing and lifestyle of the indigenous people, as a necessary step for their survival on the frontier. It emphasizes the idea that the environment initially poses a formidable challenge, and individuals must either conform to its conditions or face failure. Turner's perspective does not imply weakness but underscores the importance of resilience and adaptation in the face of a challenging environment.