The biggest migration in American history is known as the California Gold Rush. It all started on January 24th, 1848, when gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California. After word got around that gold had been discovered, many flocked to California by 1849. The individuals involved in the mass migration to California were known as forty-niners. Most of the migrants were men coming from the eastern United States, however, there were also many immigrants from China, Mexico, South America, and Europe. Five years into the migration, there were about 300,000 citizens in California, with San Francisco being the largest and most prosperous city. The Gold Rush had a major impact on the United States by causing mass migration, but it also had an impact on the idea of mining, women, African-Americans, and Chinese immigrants, and it even had lasting effects on the 21st century. Gold-seekers' migration started when James Marshall, a sawmill worker, discovered fragments of gold in a stream. Eventually, word got out to all Americans, and suddenly everyone wanted to become millionaires. The first migrants were people from Latin America, Oregon, and the Sandwich Islands (Hawai’i). After that, the famous forty-niners migrated over to California. They were from all over the world, mainly coming from the U.S., China, Europe, and Oceania. This led to California’s diverse population today.
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Chinese miners sailed across the Pacific Ocean, spending up to two months making the trip in small boats. The three main routes used by American gold seekers were the Oregon-California Trail, the Cape Horn route, and the Panama
Chinese miners sailed across the Pacific Ocean, spending up to two months making the trip in small boats. The three main routes used by American gold seekers were the Oregon-California Trail, the Cape Horn route, and the Panama