It would be difficult for the United States for two reasons, the fact that none of the land was mapped other than the areas that previous voyagers had gone through, and the natural landscape of the area, and last, Native American Hostility.
Three examples: When pioneers would voyage to the west, there would often be encounters were they would be attacked by animals that had not been seen before, bears, sneaks, different wolves, and many more. They barely knew the natural resources of the area, such as food, etc.
The next example, no mapping, would be difficult because for the most part, they had no sense of navigation except for the few maps that had been made, even then, would be difficult to navigate.
Native Americans did not appreciate the pioneers coming into the land they considered their own, they resembled hostility and would even kill the civilians that would travel through the land, or capture them.
Hope this helps!! <3
European powers were running out of places to colonize in africa, while trade in East Asia was becoming more and more profitable, but the cost in time and money of traveling all the way around africa and through the india ocean (or the long trek down the silk road) was hampering European profits off of trading. So the Spanish sent Columbus to find a shorter root to Asia. Columbus didn't set out looking for America, it was just a happy accident.
Answer:
Freedom needs to be balanced by respect of the law.