Manifest Destiny: The belief held by many Americans during the 19th century that it was their God-given right and destiny to expand and occupy all of North America.
Homestead Act: A law passed in 1862 that offered free land in the western territories to any citizen or immigrant willing to live on and cultivate it for five years.
Transcontinental Railroad: A railway system that spanned across the entire country, connecting the eastern coast with the western coast. Its construction played a significant role in facilitating westward migration and trade.