In the context of westward expansion, "individuals" refers to private citizens or single persons who were seeking opportunities to settle and own land in the western territories.
Related terms
Homestead Act: Legislation passed in 1862 that granted individuals (and families) from the East plots of public land for a small fee, encouraging westward migration and settlement.
Manifest Destiny: The belief prevalent in the 19th century that it was America's divine mission to expand its territory from coast to coast.
Frontier: The borderland at the edge of settled areas where law enforcement and government authority were limited, often associated with exploration and pioneering.