In the early 1800s, the United States needed room to grow. The problem was people lived in east. The cities were crowded. New land was expensive. Young families couldn't afford to buy farms. Then, as a solution the United States government purchased land from Franc"e. The government also acquired land from Mexico. Soon the country stretched all the way to the Pacific Ocean. People looked to the setting sun with outstretched arm and said, "Go west!