In the minds of most Americans of European descent in the early nineteenth century, the West:

A) Was an uninhabitable wilderness
B) Represented a place where they could own land and achieve economic independence
C) Consisted of a hodge-podge of cultures that could never be assimilated into the nation
D) Was a peaceful and idyllic area

The idea of manifest destiny, which was popular in the early nineteenth century, promoted the idea that it was the divine right of Americans of European descent to expand westward and settle the "wilderness" of the West. This idea was rooted in the belief that the West represented a land of opportunity, where people could own land and achieve economic independence. This motivation led to the displacement and mistreatment of many Native American tribes who already inhabited the land.