Final answer:
The desire for men to migrate west in 1849 was primarily due to economic opportunities and the belief in Manifest Destiny.
Step-by-step explanation:
The desire for men to migrate west in 1849 was primarily contributed to by the promise of economic opportunities and the belief in Manifest Destiny. The California Gold Rush attracted thousands of miners and prospectors looking to get rich quickly. The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad also created a demand for labor, drawing many men to the American West.
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