Why did the american settlers move west?
Under the British, European settlers were restricted to the east of the Appalachians. This was because the British felt they needed to protect the Native Americans, who they also regarded as British subjects, from further loss of territory. At that time land was pretty much the only source of wealth. As it was a finite resource, Europe had become land hungry. As the population grew America presented just about the only opportunity for those wishing to farm. So most immigrants who came in the early days were lured by the possibility of their own land. Once the country became independent, land hungry European settlers gradually moved westwards seeking and settling new tracts as they went.
