In the 1780s, settlers in western areas such as tennessee and kentucky: were especially attentive to what land belonged to indians and purchased indian land legally. found that the soil was poor for growing cash crops such as tobacco or cotton and moved westward. believed they had a right to take possession of western lands and use them as they saw fit. were largely wealthy plantation owners who settle thriving trading towns along the rivers. threatened civil war because they considered the confederation congress to be too powerful.