Natural environments and economic growth had a major impact in the shaping of the development of the West beyond the Mississippi River. Some of the few key features in the shaping of the West was: the wildlife present, the up and coming railroads, and the reaction from everyday settlers. It is thought that America is the land of new ideas and inventions that pushed people to explore and expand Westward. The concept of something new gave an open opportunity for people to make the western part of America what they wanted it to be. The wildlife located along the trip across the west was abundant. There were many types of animals from small mammals to big mammals, however, the most plentiful and the most helpful was the buffalo. In [Primary
