The movement of people from eastern cities towards the newly settled western territories in search of new opportunities or a better life.
Related terms
Gold Rush: A period when many people rushed to western territories in search of gold during the mid-1800s.
Homesteading: Settling on public land provided by the government under specific conditions (e.g., improving it through farming) with hopes for ownership rights.
Transcontinental Railroad: A railway system spanning across the entire continent that made transportation faster and easier between east and west.