In 1848, James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill near the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. This started the Gold Rush. Just days after Marshall's discovery at Sutter's Mill, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the Mexican-American War. California became part of the United States.

News of the gold discovery spread quickly, and thousands of people called ’49ers, flocked to California looking for wealth. A total of $2 billion worth of precious metal was extracted from the area during the Gold Rush, which peaked in 1852.

By the end of 1849, the non-native population had grown to 100,000, up from less than 1,000 before the Gold Rush. Towns sprang up around mining areas, and San Francisco became a thriving city. With the increase in population, California became a state in 1850.

Many people left their homes and families, borrowing money or selling their belongings to make the journey. Women who stayed behind managed farms and businesses on their own. Mining was hard, dangerous work, and not everyone struck it rich.

Over time, surface gold became harder to find, and mining became industrialized. This shift forced many miners to give up independence and work for wages. Although mining continued into the 1850s, the Gold Rush left a lasting impact, shaping California’s economy and population. San Francisco grew into a major city, and the promise of gold helped push westward expansion in the United States.

Source: The Gold Rush of 1849
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