Reasons for moving westward

There were many reasons that the people of the southeast pulled up stakes and traveled west. Money, land, and exploration were three of the main reasons for moving west in the 1800s. Just as today, jobs and money effected when and where we lived. I love exploration just as my parents do, and I assure you that we would have been in those wagon trains along with many other people. Its a shame that one of the reasons for moving west was to conquer the Native Americans. After all, they were here first. If the government and settlers had simply bought the land from the Native Americans, then yes they would have been down on most likely animals or equipment, but a lot of lives could have been saved. The thing is, that today's Americans still haven't learned.There was a time that the east was the west as the Pilgrims landed on the east coast of America. It's in human nature to explore, and question. Thats partially the reason for war and all its tensions. Its amazing how simple intentions can change to horrible decisions.