The California Gold Rush of 1849: A Dream For Some, A Nightmare For Others

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Many people spend their whole lives trying to make money and become rich. One imagines a lifestyle where they do not have to work to provide for their families and they can enjoy the finer things in life. Some may go to great lengths to find this source of richness, even if this involves packing up and moving far away. Many people found a way to make this dream of being rich a reality on January 24, 1848. While constructing a sawmill for John Sutter, James W. Marshall discovered gold in the American River. Many people flocked to California in search of the golden treasure and to follow their dream. This was the start of the California Gold Rush. The California Gold Rush was an important part of the history of the United States; it helped to settle the western United States, increased the economy of California, and negatively impacted the Native Americans living in the west.
First of all, the California Gold Rush helped to settle the western United States by giving people a reason to head west. In his state of the Union Address in December 1848, President Polk broadcasted the discovery of gold, causing a rush to the west. The search for gold brought almost 300,000 people to California by the year 1850. These people did not just include Americans, but instead included people from every corner of the globe and every continent. The influx of travelers to the west required a faster mode of transportation be developed. Thus the Panama Railway, the world’s first transcontinental railroad was born. Prior to the railroad, there were only two ways to get to California. One way was to risk travel from New York to California on a six month sea journey. This was a disease ridden voyage with many different food and water rations. Anothe...

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