Final answer:
Push factors that influenced the settlement of the West in the 19th century included political unrest, poverty, and the availability of cheap land due to acts like the Homestead Act and infrastructure achievements such as the Transcontinental Railroad.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'push factors' refers to the conditions that drive people to leave their current location and seek a new one. These factors played a significant role in the settlement of the West during the 19th century.
Notable push factors included political unrest, poverty, war, land shortages, famine, natural disasters, high crime rates, lack of resources, and discrimination. In the context of westward expansion, declining soil fertility in the East, the lure of cheap land in the West, and the desire to prevent British occupation of these lands were key push factors.
Furthermore, the Homestead Act of 1862 and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad made the move West more accessible, while perceptions of fulfilling 'Manifest Destiny' also spurred migration.