Why people headed west

With more and more people from Europe moving into the eastern states, crowding was sometimes a problem. Still others wanted to move from their homes in the east because they didn't like the new industries and the developing cities.

Pioneer settlers were sometimes pulled west because they wanted to make a better living. Others received letters from friends or family members who had moved west. These letters often told about a good life on the frontier.

Notice the candle used for light inside the mine shaft. Silver mines in Nevada looked very similar, and drew thousands of people looking for work. The Great Plains. A successful Nebraska homestead The photo below shows a family farm in Nebraska in The windmill is for pumping water. The walls of the house are made of sod. Sod is the term for the top layer of the soil, with the roots of the grass holding it together. The early settlers on the Great Plains used sod to make their homes because trees for wood were so scarce.

Advances in technology - The Transcontinental Railroad Technological advances also helped settle the West. The Transcontinental Railroad is a good example of this. Two different companies built the line, helped with money from the federal government. The part shown in red was built by the Central Pacific Railroad company.

The part shown in green was built by the Union Pacific Railroad company. Railroad lines already reached as far as Omaha, Nebraska, at that time. The Transcontinental Railroad was designed to reach from there to California. Once completed in , people, supplies, and farm products could be shipped to and from the West easily. The drawing below shows the joining of the two parts of the Transcontinental Railroad line in Utah, in It was considered the greatest engineering project up to that time in history.

The event was celebrated all across the country. Adventure The promise of adventure was another big reason people moved to the West. For many people, the West seemed to hold the promise of unlimited possibilities. It gave a chance to live an independent life, far from the crowded cities and factories of the East. They also had to pack it full of supplies. Then they had to join a wagon train. Or, simply login to enjoy. Login or Sign Up for a Premium Account to view this content. In order to view premium content on Kids Discover Online you must either login to your existing premium account or sign up for a premium account and login.

You are here. Quick Quiz. Choose One A food.