Gold Rush: Growth and Consequences

One major impact of the gold rushes between 1848 and 1859 was the economic growth and westward

expansion of the United States. The discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848 encouraged

around 300,000 people to move to California in search of fortune. This led to the rapid development

of new towns such as San Francisco, which grew from a small settlement into a large city.

Businesses providing tools, food, and transport also expanded,

helping to boost the national economy. This shows the consequence of the gold rushes, as they transformed

California from an undeveloped region into a wealthy and important part of the United States.

Another key impact was the social and environmental change caused by the gold rushes.