Many Americans decided to move west in the 1840s and 50s. There were many reasons for this. People went their for wealth and religious purposes. The pull factors were food, shelter, family and safety. The pull factors were excitement, adventure, fame, wealth. Even thought there was the risk of Indians people were willing to take the risk.
People had all their lives been living in the crowded, boring reservations. The Americans wanted excitement and adventure. Hearing the stories of mountain men like Jim Bridger many people fled to the rookies and plains to become mountain men.
Another route for the migrants to take was farming. In the plains acres upon acres of free land was available to farm. As well good cheap farming there was also freedom in the west. Along with these farmers came the homesteaders. They mainly consisted of ex-soldiers, freed slaves and people escaping prosecution. The homesteaders act offered hundreds of acres of land as long as they farmed it and grew vegetation and plants.
Behind this was the belief of the government of manifest destiny. They believed god wanted them to own and farm the land and spread out.
In 1849 the gold rush began and people from all over the world began migrating Sutter’s mill and other gold mines. This was lifetime opportunity for the poor to get rich. Especially those who were starting a new life after being freed from slavery.
Railway workers and cowboys traveled west to find work. They were usually freed slaves or Mexicans escaping poverty. Yong men loved the idea of sitting on a horse all day controlling herds. They found this an adventure. Young men were proud to be the builders of the first railway in the world. It was due to this new transport that cattle and other resources could transport quickly and efficiently.
The last group who migrated west were the people escaping religious confrontation. Especially the Mormons. They traveled many cities but were chucked out. They moved west in search of a place were Brigham Young could control them
You could begin by doing some chronology work. Make an illustrated timeline of the West - begin with the 12 Key Dates we went over in class, then pad it out with the extended timeline available here:
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