What Is Rugged Individualism Mean
Rugged individualism was the phrase used often by herbert hoover during his time as president.
What is rugged individualism mean. As the election came to a close hoover sought to define his own philosophy made famous in the speech entitled rugged individualism herbert hoover s definition of rugged individualism was. Belief not only in personal liberty and self reliance but also in free competition. President herbert hoover coined the term rugged individualism to describe america as being a place where people could be self reliant and free from controlling governments. 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.
It helps that it now has a name. Frederick jackson turner should have coined it in his 1893 essay on the frontier but he didn t. Belief not only in personal liberty and self reliance but also in free competition how to pronounce rugged individualism. Individualism as a concept isn t necessarily bad.
Rugged individualism noun individualism in social and economic affairs. 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 the belief that all individuals or nearly all individuals can succeed on their own and that government help for people should be minimal. And rugged individualism continues to be a part of our mental makeup.
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. This is an oddity but for a very long time the term rugged individualism seems not to have existed. The phrase is often associated with policies of the republican party and was widely used by the republican president herbert hoover. Individualism a belief in the importance of the individual and the virtue of self reliance and personal independence.
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.