Gold Fever! The Rush to California

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What Sparked the Gold Rush?

In the 1840s, California was still a quiet place. Only about 14,000 people lived there, and it wasn’t even a state yet. But that would soon change.

John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, had a big dream. He built a fort, started a ranch, and hired people to help him build his empire. One of those workers was James Marshall, a carpenter sent to build a sawmill along the American River.

On January 24, 1848, something shiny caught Marshall’s eye in the water. It was gold! He picked up a small chunk, about the size and shape of a pea.

He couldn’t believe it. He kept looking—and found more. He had just discovered gold in California.

The News Spreads Like Wildfire

At first, Sutter and Marshall tried to keep the discovery a secret. But secrets like this don’t stay quiet for long.

By 1849, thousands of people had heard the news and were heading to California. These gold-seekers became known as the 49ers, named for the year they arrived.

People came from all over the world—China, Mexico, Europe, and the East Coast of the U.S.—hoping to strike it rich. Some came by wagon across dangerous trails. Others traveled by ship, sailing around South America or crossing through Panama.

Building Boom—and Bust

All those people needed places to eat, sleep, and buy supplies. Tiny towns turned into busy cities almost overnight.

San Francisco went from just 400 people in 1848 to more than 25,000 in 1850. Even Sacramento, which didn’t exist before the gold rush, quickly became home to 12,000 people.

But gold wasn’t easy to find. Some people struck it rich, but most didn’t. By the time many arrived, the best spots were already taken.

Tools were expensive, mining was hard work, and few people actually found enough gold to live on.

Winners, Losers, and Lasting Change

Some men became rich almost overnight. Others lost everything.

One of the biggest losers was John Sutter himself. As more people arrived, his land was taken over. His crops and cattle were stolen or destroyed, and his sawmill was ruined. He never got it back.

The gold rush also created problems.

There were no strong laws at first, so crime ran wild. Gangs formed in mining camps to protect gold—or steal it. Some miners hurt the Native Californians and others who had already been living there, taking land and resources by force.

Still, the gold rush had a big impact. California’s population grew fast, and by 1850, it became the 31st state in the U.S.

The rush helped build the economy and shaped California into the busy, diverse place it is today.

Now that you know the story, see what you remember and what you can do with what you’ve learned.

Next up: time to dig into some golden practice in the Got It? section!