Essay - California Gold Rush the Californian Gold Rush Introduction the Discovery...

California Gold Rush

The Californian ***** Rush

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The discovery of gold in Caliornia was an event that ch*****ged the region and which had a profound impact on the country as a whole. This historical event is even described as "epoch-making. (Color in the River) The effects of this event ***** a far-reaching impact ***** the social structure ***** the region and also on ec*****omic, political, judicial aspects, as well as ***** cultural development of California. ***** influx of thous*****s of people into ***** in search of ***** "...transformed not only the economic history of California, but much of its social, cultural, and ***** history as well." (Color in ***** River) ***** paper will present an overview of the California gold rush *****d the various ways that it influenced ***** course of growth and ***** in the region.

A brief overview

***** 1848 James Marshall discovered gold near the American River, in present - day Sacramento. At the time Marshall was operat*****g a sawmill near *****. After the ***** intended he to create a secluded community in ***** *****rea but the news of the gold drew thousands of gold seekers ***** ***** area. Another important aspect is that at the time the area was still under Mexican control ***** on Feb 2, 1848 the territory was ceded to ***** United States by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; a factor ***** further opened the way for more gold seekers.

The news of the discovery of gold find spread rapidly. There ***** an unprecedented rush of thousands ***** ***** to the area and this was increased by the fact that *****re were no laws in place and no restrictions on the influx of gold *****. Records of the popualti***** in the territory during ***** period show the extent of the influx of people to California in ***** ***** *****ir fortune. For example, prior ***** the discovery of gold ***** 1848 the number of settlers in California was estimated at only 2,700. However by the end of 1849, "...almost 90,000 more had arrived. Between 1850 and 1852, 150,000 settled in ***** Golden State. By the end of 1860, California's population stood at 380,000. "(Color in the River) ***** study states *****, " The discovery of ***** at Sutter's Mill early in 1848 brought more than 40,000 prospectors to California with***** two years. ("Gold Rush")

While most of the gold seekers did not "strike it rich" there were a ***** who amassed considerable **********. Importantly, the wealth and prosperity th***** was stimulated by *****e discovery of ***** was to change the region in a very short period of time. "...***** we*****lth that came from the gold transformed San Francisco almost overnight into one ***** the world's major cities. The ***** created fortunes that funded the railroads and the mining magnates of Virginia City, shaping modern life for ***** coming century. "(Color in the River)

The effect on the development growth of *****

The consensus among historians is that the Californian gold discovery of 1848