The answer would be the availability of new farming land in the west, while back east, most of their land had already been taken.
Modern Europe is more likley during High Middle AGes decnetralised with open borders and free market wioth limited central fgovernment in 17 century Europe was domianted by absolutist moanrchies centralised often with control over various nations with mercantilistc economic system.
The Mississippi Delta area is not heavily forest now because it was cleared for agriculture (cotton).
Serrlers from what is now the northwest Germany
To avoid another German attack on the Russians, to create a buffer zone between the soviet union and the west, and to supply materials in order to rebuild the soviet economy
