Final answer:
True, in the mid-1800s, moving west and establishing a farm required more resources than most wage laborers possessed, due to the costs of land, farming difficulties, and expensive shipping rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: Moving west, buying land, and establishing a farm did require more resources than most wage laborers had in the mid-1800s. During this time, aspiring homesteaders faced immense challenges, including acquiring land, which was often facilitated by acts such as the Homestead Act of 1862. In addition, the land was usually difficult to farm, and there were often high costs for shipping goods due to expensive railroad freight rates. Small family farms struggled to compete with large 'bonanza' farms, which could take advantage of economies of scale and access to new farm technology, resulting in these larger operations often being more successful.