What factors led to the westward expansion?

Westward expansion in the United States was driven by several factors, including the desire for land and resources, the belief in Manifest Destiny, and economic opportunities such as the Gold Rush. The availability of new technologies, like the railroad, facilitated travel and settlement. Additionally, government policies, such as the Homestead Act, encouraged settlers to move westward by offering land at little or no cost. These combined factors fueled the movement of many Americans into the western territories.