Question

why did the United States want to move westward?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada)

The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy”

Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad.

The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.

Answer 2

Answer:

Pioneer settlers were sometimes pulled west because they wanted to make a better living. Others received letters from friends or family members who had moved west. These letters often told about a good life on the frontier. The biggest factor that pulled pioneers west was the opportunity to buy land.