Why did the colonist feel pressured to expand westward in the mid-1700s?

Colonists felt pressured to expand westward in the mid-1700s due to a combination of factors, including the desire for land and the promise of economic opportunity. The growing population in the eastern colonies led to increased competition for resources, pushing settlers to seek new territory. Additionally, the allure of fertile land and the potential for wealth through agriculture and trade motivated many to move westward. This expansionist sentiment was further fueled by the belief in Manifest Destiny, which held that it was their right to spread across the continent.