What factors--mental and physical were most important in drawing people to the west in the 19th century?

Question

I have the Gold Rush, religious conviction, greed.

are there others?

Answer 1

you also have to consider, as the other answer gave, the ability to buy land. as New England and the east coast states became more crowded, land was more expensive. lots of people moved out west where land was cheaper, food was easier to hunt, and they could have more privacy.

some groups moved for the express idea of founding their own state. Brigham Young led the Mormons out west, and they settled around the great Salt Lake, wanting to make their own society away from everyone else.

some hunters and traders did it to get closer to Indians or to the buffalo, which were disappearing.

some thought they could make a good living building trading towns along large rivers, to make money off people traveling to California.

still other scientists went out to survey the land, document the wildlife, and look for new resources.

Answer 2

Free land on which to live the agrarian dream.