Gold was discovered in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California
1848
California is on the west coast of the USA, just beyond Oregon
News of the gold discovery spread rapidly throughout the country
The gold discovery became the greatest 'pull' factor attracting migrants to the west
Thousands of migrants rushed to California to try and find their fortune
1849
The population of California grew rapidly from just 15,000 in 1848 to 300,000 by 1855
Though some lucky prospectors did become very rich, the vast majority failed to find any gold and either returned home or settled permanently in California as farmers
Consequences of the Gold Rush
New prospectors needed somewhere to buy food, drink, equipment and entertainment
Provided a great opportunity for Californians to become shopkeepers and tradesmen
Californian became the perfect advertisement for western settlement
The huge population boom led to problems of law and order with many resorting to taking the law into their own hands
There was also a lot of racial tension as white miners clashed with Hispanics, Californian Indians, free African Americans and the Chinese
