Why were so many settlers willing to leave their homes and head west in the late 1800s

Many settlers were willing to leave their homes and head west due to the dream of attaining a better life, usually thinking of the possibility of acquiring free or cheap land. Other ocassions were for example, the "gold rush" in which so many went to California in search of gold. Others went west hoping to find more freedom.

in 550 b.c.e. cyrus the great, the leader of the persians, conquered the medes and united the iranian people under one ruler for the first time. cyrus became the first king of the persian empire and went on to establish one of the largest empires in world.

an unexpected salary cut