Why did pioneers settle west of the Appalachian?

Answer 1

Abundant Natural Resources such as coal and lumber, fresh water, shelter or rather the advantage of being hidden from the sight of others while being able to see them in case of an attack. Also at the top of the mountains there is a great view of miles and miles of the surrounding areas. Good for hunting, fishing, native american tribes would have thrived. Many rocks and minerals, caves, etc.

Answer 2

It's all about western expansion. We thought we had a god given right to live all the way from ocean to ocean. It was also getting crowded in the eastern states and people were too concentrated in those areas.

Answer 3

For a long time settlers were forbidden by British law to cross the mountains. As well, there were only Indian foot trails along ridges of mountains; Indian hunting parties followed the animal trails and animals picked ridges as the easiest passage when following prey. But, that mean a very narrow trail through thick forests and rocky ridges. So human movement across the mountains would be very difficult, mostly on foot, no wagons, and carrying possessions or loading them on pack horses. But eastern areas were getting crowded. People wanted land. Males reaching their 21st birthdays--the age of majority--wanted their own land.

When people began moving across the mountains, whole families walked. In a story about one family, they put an infant in a flour sack with a large sack of flour as counterweight on the opposite side, tied across the horse with ropes, with the father, mother and 8 older siblings walking single file. Children as young as 2 years old walked, were carried, or periodically secured on a horse with other possessions. Families had to watch out for falling rocks, slippery trails, poisonous snakes, animal attacks (bears, big cats), and Indian attacks. It's amazing anyone survived the long trek, including pregnant women and young children.

Eventually, a stone road was made to the south, but that meant going out of the way (south) to go west on an easier route across the mountains. But most people still followed the Indian hunting trails across from east to west rather than go south first.

In the late 1700s-early 1800s, land east of the Appalachian (which includes the Allegheny Mts and Blue Ridge Mts) faced overpopulation in a small area of land. The land could be 'farmed out', when the soil cannot support growth. Families moved West for low cost land, and in search of new farmlands.

Answer 4

This may sound like a smart-aleck answer but it isn't---because the Appalachian Mountains were in the way. When settlers first arrived, they formed colonies along the eastern seaboard. They followed rivers north and south, and began moving into the interior lands. For a long time, the British forbid settlers from crossing the mountains. Plus, crossing the mountains was dangerous, since the Indian footpaths and hunting trails were along steep ridges with steep drop offs down cliffs. But available lands for farming became scarce in the East. A few explorers had crossed the mountains into SW areas, and reported back. Families and single men began "moving west" into western NY, PA, VA, WVA etc. Many went south using rivers, going to Kentucky and other states. Even when most of SW PA was under Bedford County PA (in the mountains), the mountains were extremely difficult to cross. Settlers in the Western half couldn't even safely transport grains back to markets in the East. So settlers turned corn and grain into whiskey; most rural farmers owned whiskey stills. Whiskey was cheaper to transport over the Allegheny Mountains in PA and Appalachian Mountains that cover numerous states. When settlers faced high taxes on their whiskey shipments, this led to the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania. By the mid 1800s, crossing the mountains became more common, though still dangerous. "Footpaths" expanded into dirt roads, or stone roads. PA was one of the first states to make a "highway" constructed of stone--but it went in a southerly direction and did not cross the mountains. By the 1940s-1950s, men used their knowledge about TNT in coal mines to make tunnels through mountains. In the 1950s, the PA Turnpike provided previously unknown safe travel to now millions of people. But...it all began with settlers who dared walk in single file along the Indian footpaths and hunting trails to 'go west' and take up new land.

Answer 5

In the late 1700s-early 1800s, land east of the Appalachian (which includes the Allegheny Mts and Blue Ridge Mts) faced overpopulation in a small area of land. The land could be 'farmed out', when the soil cannot support growth. Families moved West for low cost land, and in search of new farmlands.

Answer 6

Sorry I dont know but try going on wikipedia

Answer 7

Because the land in the east was becoming crowded

Answer 8

principally, low- or no-cost land