Explorer who went west

: Lewis and Clark Explored the Louisiana Territory and Western North America.Lewis and Clark were asked by President Thomas Jefferson to explore and map the wild west of North America. They traveled across the country to the Pacific Ocean and back again.

:Daniel Boone,

Exploring and settled the frontier of Kentucky.Daniel Boone became one of America's first folk heroes. His exploits as a woodsman were legendary. He was an expert hunter, marksman, and tracker. He led the exploration and settlement of Kentucky. 

: Zebulon Pike

Pike tried to find the source of the Mississippi River and also explored the Rocky Mountains and southwestern North America. Pike's Peak in Colorado is named for him.

Why go west

:Homestead act,

The Homestead Act became law in 1862 when it was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. Under the new law a U.S. Citizen could get 160 acres of unoccupied land west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains. They could keep the land if they lived on the land for five years and made improvements to the land.

:Oregon trail

The Oregon Trail was a major route that people took when migrating to the western part of the United States. Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to carry their belongings.

:Gold Rush

Gold was first discovered in California by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill near the city of Coloma. James was building a sawmill for John Sutter when he found shiny flakes of gold in the river. He told John Sutter about the discovery and they tried to keep it secret. However, soon word got out and prospectors were rushing to California to find gold.

:Freedom

 Westward Expansion profoundly affected the lives of all Americans. Despite the obstacles to freedom in the pursuit of expansion it reinforced some older ideas of freedom as well as created new ones. The end of the War of 1812 accelerated and began the westward movement of the population.

Way to travel west

Transcontinental Railroad

The First Transcontinental Railroad stretched from the East Coast of the United States to the West Coast. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach California. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. In addition to people, things like mail, supplies, and trade goods could now be shipped across the country in just a few days. The railroad was built between 1863 and 1869.