California Gold Rush

history · gold · california · migration

Gold found at Sutter's Mill. On January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. This single discovery changed the course of American history.

Hundreds of thousands arrived. About 300,000 people from across the United States and around the world rushed to California hoping to strike it rich. This massive migration happened in just a few years.

Economy got a huge boost. All that gold flowing into the money supply gave the American economy a jolt of energy and helped the country grow stronger.

California became a state. The gold rush brought so many people to California so quickly that it helped the region become a state in 1850 through something called the Compromise of 1850.