When people began to settle west of the appalachians in the late 1700s, they were mainly looking for
a. fertile farmland.
b. new plants and animals.
c. a water route to the pacific.
d. sites for industrial development.

The answer is:

A.fertile farmland.

As they were settling the main reason to settle in other places was the search for fertile land where they could farm.

d. dr. francis collins

a. by accepting the election of president abraham lincoln in 1860 and convincing other southern states to do the same