1) main reason was to obtain free land from the federal government in the western states, provided that you agreed to live on the land.
2) some where drawn to the rather lawless and hazardous environment of the west.
3) the gold rush of 1849 in California was a major draw for those wanting to strike it rich.
Answer:
we're surrounded by 2 oceans, we get exports from other countries and we've one multiple wars. ex. spanish-american war and the civil war
