What was the primary focus of the safety valve theory discussed by Frederick Jackson Turner?

The primary focus of the safety valve theory, as articulated by Frederick Jackson Turner, centers on allowing individuals to escape societal pressures. Turner suggested that the availability of frontier land in the United States provided a "safety valve" for people facing social, economic, or political issues in the East. By migrating westward, individuals could find new opportunities, improve their living conditions, and alleviate the stresses that might have otherwise led to unrest or dissatisfaction in more crowded regions.

This theory reflected the notion that the frontier served not only as a physical space for expansion but also as a symbolic escape from the constraints imposed by urban industrial society at the time. The idea was that when the population in the East became too strained, those individuals or groups could take their ambitions westward, thus relieving potential pressures on society and preventing social upheaval.