# data[].attributes.body
To many people the West offered a golden chance to make money. After the U.S. had doubled in size with the Louisiana Purchase , some Americans wanted to take land away that had been inhabited by Native Americans. Land speculators were people who bought huge areas of land. Speculators made profit by sectioning their land and selling to thousands of settlers who had dreams of creating their own farms. Soon after settlers had flocked west to buy land, merchants and manufacturers followed with hopes of selling needed items to farmers. Some people also followed west to find jobs or escape people to whom they owned money.

# data[].attributes.body
Jedediah Smith was a Mountain Man. He led an expedition to find a route through the Rocky Mountains. During that expedition, a grizzly bear attacked Jedediah, seized his head, shredded his face, and tore off an ear partially.

# data[].attributes.body
Life as a Mountain Man was dangerous. They spent of their time alone trapping beavers and other small animals. Mountain Men roamed all over to set traps to obtain fur. Trappers bought supplies from traders and paid with the furs. Mountain men worked so heavily along some streams that they killed off the animals.

# data[].attributes.body
Hundreds of settlers migrated west along the Oregon Trail. Life on the trail was dangerous. To provide safety, pioneers traveled in wagon trains. Wagon trains each had rules and elected leaders to enforce rules. Many people died on the trail. Some children were left orphaned because parents getting overtaken by 'camp fever'.

# data[].attributes.body
Travelers went west in search of markets as well. William Becknell opened the Santa Fe Trail. The trail went from Missouri to Santa Fe. Becknell made a large profit because New Mexicans were eager for new goods. After Becknell arrived home, people found gold and silver coins in his bags. Soon after the discovery of the coins, news spread that New Mexico was a place for traders to become rich. Hundreds of traders and prairie schooners traveled 800-miles from Missouri to New Mexico each year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Westward Expansion Unit - Santa Fe Trail Scenic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A supplemental video about what settlers experienced traveling along the Santa Fe Trail