The Gold Rush In California

A gold fever was arising. It was the talk of the country in the mid 1800’s. Worth about $1,000 per ounce today, gold meant great wealth in the 1840’s and 50’s. The news of gold findings in California soon spread worldwide. Many people were quick to react hearing that gold had been founded in California. California was a place of chaos during the gold rush of 1849. A plot of land that went for $15 in 1847, was later sold for $40,000 after the discovery of gold(Heinrichs, 23). Cities formed and California’s economy increasingly grew. A railroad was built which connected California to other states farther east in the United States because flocks of people continued migrating with the hopes of wealth. The gold rush drew much needed attention to California making it a crucial event to decisions about California in the future. The gold rush of 1849 resulted in the rapid growth of California ultimately leading to statehood and westward expansion.

The first gold findings were found at a mill business in stream beds in 1848. Gold mines were immediately put into action underground and above. Easy gold extraction reeled in the inexperienced and experts knowing they could find large quantities of the valuable mineral making them richer faster. Also the actions of cutting class lines with the skilled upper class men and the unskilled lower class laborers working at the same gold fields next to one another(Gold Rush 1849). The extremely wealthy anxious to get more rich than they already were. The poor and middle class to find gold and wealth for a better