The primary objective of the Oklahoma Land Rush, which began on April 22, 1889, was to allow settlers to claim and occupy land in the unassigned lands of Oklahoma Territory. The rush enabled individuals and families to stake their claim to free land, fostering the westward expansion and settlement of the American frontier. Participants raced to secure land parcels, leading to a chaotic but iconic event in U.S. history. It symbolized the opportunity for prosperity and was a manifestation of the belief in Manifest Destiny, where Americans felt it was their right to expand across the continent.