By the late 1700's, the young United States began to look westward and dream about the possibilities it presented. They wondered if there was in fact an all water route from the Mississippi to the Pacific, what the whole continent actually looked like, and really, what was out there. There were many individual and groups of people that helped pave an opening for the eventual settlement of the American west. Two of the most recognizable …showed first 75 words of 2412 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2412 total…and others, truly opened up the west for settlement and exploitation by the United States. Lewis and Clark actually laid out what the west was, how to get there, and where to go. The mountain men explored all the little nooks and crannies of the continent. The efforts of these two groups are what eventually led to the massive migration of the population across the continent, and they should be recognized as true American heroes.