The California Gold Rush began when gold was discovered in a stream at Sutter's Mill, California. It was in January, 1948 when a man by the name of James Marshall first found the gold, and it was not long before many people around the world migrated to California to share in the wealth. People traveled both nationally as well as internationally to become miners. "As news spread of the fortunes being made in California, the first migrants to arrive were those from lands accessible by boat, such as Oregon, the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii), Mexico, Chile, Peru and even China" (The Gold Rush Of 1849). This explosive, abrupt and thriving new interest in California was one of the most important migratory events of all time. It helped to expand the United States westbound and helped to shape the political, economic and social development of our country and helped the United States to gain power internationally.
THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS BECAME THE RALLYING CRY OF THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH IN 1849.
THE SCENE TO THE LEFT SHOWS THE ROUGH LANDSCAPE AND CHALLENGES THE 49'ERS ENDURED IN ORDER TO TRAVEL TO GOLD RUSH. IT WAS EVEN DIFFICULT MOVING BETWEEN SITES IF THEY WANTED TO CHANGE LOCATIONS.