Final answer:
Many individuals during the Industrial Revolution headed west to escape factory work and seek better opportunities. This westward movement was part of a broader socio-economic shift as the Rust Belt began to emerge.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the era of the Industrial Revolution, many people felt that working in factories restricted their freedom. To strike out on their own and seek better socio-economic opportunities, many headed in the westward direction. This movement was driven by various factors, including the quest for land, the desire to escape the harsh conditions of factory labor, and the ambition to achieve upward social mobility through hard work and discipline. As factories in what would become known as the Rust Belt began to close, this westward expansion included settling in places beyond the Appalachian Mountains and staking claims to land in the Old Northwest and the Old Southwest. This trend significantly shaped America's economic and social landscape during that period.