After the Civil War, America turned it's attention toward westward expansion. The now, newly United States started a major campaign to get the infant west populated. A continuous theme of change has been accompanying America since then. The introduction of the Transcontinental Railroad acted as a catalyst for civilization in the newly aquired western states. The railroads had a significant impact on the way the west was populated, due to the fact that the distance you traveled each day no longer depended on how far you could ride your horse. Thus, in the late 1800's Manifest Destiny was within America's reach...

Settlers moved west for many reasons. Some were "Westward ho" for adventure and were mostly avid outdoorsmen, a necessary trait in the west. Others were seeking the opportunity to make a living, or were taking advantage of the "one quarter section of public land" that government ads...