Essay On The California Gold Rush

Almost everyone has heard about the California Gold Rush at some point, it brings up images of hermits panning for gold in a river. In actuality the California Gold Rush is much more than that. Many things throughout American would not be the same without the California Gold Rush. The California Gold Rush caused a huge boom in civilization in the western part of the United States of America, because of it there was a boom a population growth in a short period of time. It caused many of the major cities that the United States still has, also it played a huge part in the building of railroads. The Gold Rush also played a key part in the United States relations to everyone who was not “American”. The prospect of acquiring wealth can change a country …show more content…
They were killed off in so many ways that it is surprising that they were not completely killed off. "During the Gold Rush, miners, loggers, and settlers formed vigilante groups and local militias to hunt Indians living outside the mission communities—a genocide largely ignored by American history. The Native population, estimated at 150,000 in 1845, was by 1870 less than 30,000." (Gustav Heye). There were reports of miners killing 50 Native Americans a day. Jon Sutter built an empire based on kidnapped Natives, where he would force them to work in horrible conditions. This was counted as the most destructive element of the Gold Rush. In conclusion, the California Gold Rush played a huge part in the development of the United States of America. It caused an increase in population in many areas. Cities such as San Francisco became what it is today because of the rush. It caused the further alienation of both the Native Americans and the foreign settlers. The Golden Era brought about advancements in the railroad system. It was more than just hermits sitting in the mountains panning for gold. The California Gold Rush shaped America for better or for