What year did people start moving west?

Answer 1

I could give you a long answer about a general Polk, the Louisiana Purchase, US theory of the time, and the monroe doctrine and infant stages of "US Imperialism", but in two words the answer is : Manifest Destiny uwlambdalady

Answer 2

Considering the West to mean west of the Mississippi River, the first organized and firm settlement in the west was accomplished by the Mormons. When there leader Joseph Smith was forced to continually move his followers west to escape religious persecution, they ended up as far west as Illinois and Missouri. The persecution was due to the fact that Smith and his followers believed in polygamy. In 1846, Smith was murdered by an angry mob in Missouri and the new leader, Brigham Young, led the Mormons to Salt Lake City Utah in 1847. This can be said to be a firm date for the beginning of the westward movement. Shortly after, gold was found in California, and the '49ers were a new group of miners that headed west in hopes of striking gold mines.

Answer 3

Native Americans first settled Turtle Island (known today as the Americas) at least 10,000 years ago, some estimates date this back to 65,000 years ago.

Answer 4

People started moving west in the 1840's and this lasted until the 1860's, when trains were created.