124. Friedman's conception of an unencumbered and individualistic frontier lifestyle drew on a narrative of western history that was common among historians in the early twentieth century. An exemplary text is Frederic Paxson, History of the American Frontier, 1763– 1893 (Boston: Houghton Miffl in, 1924). Long before Friedman delivered his speech, this narrative had been subjected to devastating criticisms; see, for, example, Benjamin Wright, "American Democracy and the Frontier," Yale Review 20 (1931): 349– 365.

Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, loc. 1074