Final answer:
Most people walking beside their wagons during the U.S. westward expansion did so to reduce the load on their animals. In urban settings, transportation evolved from horse-drawn carriages to more efficient rail systems that transformed travel. The construction of transportation infrastructure was crucial to this transformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the westward expansion in the United States, most people walked beside their wagons to ease the burden on the oxen powering the wagons—especially since the wagons were laden with goods essential for the journey. This mode of travel was a grueling process due to the slow pace, rough terrain, and the potential for diseases like cholera and dysentery that commonly afflicted migrants. Moreover, it was not uncommon for families to abandon their homes and possessions in hopes of a safer and more prosperous life, often walking beside slow-moving wagons as they ventured beyond their immediate surroundings.
The demand for efficient city travel in the 1800s was met by the introduction of the omnibus and horse car, which provided a smoother ride but still faced limitations such as horses needing rest and the issue of horse manure. The expansion of roads, canals, and railroads greatly improved the speed and ease of travel, which, by the mid-19th century, began to transform the daily lives and migration patterns of Americans.