How does the American frontier continue to be an important part of life in the US today

Many of the ideas that encouraged the migration and settlement of the U.S. frontier in the 18th and 19th centuries—such as “Manifest Destiny”—contributed to later ideologies of U.S. society, such as the “American Dream”. Pioneers expected to work hard and rely only on themselves in hopes in hopes of improving their lot; the “American Dream” is still espoused as the reward of hard work and sacrifice, regardless of the reality. The rights of citizens–to own land, to be able to legally bear arms and defend themselves–also hails, in part, to some of the core issues of settlers of frontier America. The controversy over gun violence, which still is ongoing, has partial roots in the frontier cattle towns of Abilene and Dodge City.