Frontier: The frontier refers to the outer edge of settled territory where people are beginning to explore and establish new communities.
Homestead Act: The Homestead Act was a law that encouraged settlement in the western territories by granting individuals ownership of up to 160 acres of land for free or at a low cost.
Manifest Destiny: Manifest Destiny was the belief during the 19th century that it was America's destiny and right to expand its territory from coast to coast. This belief fueled westward expansion and settlement.