1/24 【美國歷史上的今天】加州淘金潮開始，產生了什麼影響？

每天一篇《美國歷史上的今天》，提煉和總結歷史在今天發生的重要事件：誰，在哪裡，什麼時候，做了什麼，這件事為什麼重要、以及在寫關於什麼主題的論文的時候可以作為潛在論據引用。每天半分鐘，輕鬆積累史實，為AP歷史拿5分打下堅實基礎！

When: Jan 24, 1848

What: The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutters Mill in Coloma, California.

Why significant: The news of gold attracted over 300,000 people to California from the rest of the U.S. and abroad. The sudden influx of immigration and gold into the money supply reinvigorated the American economy, and California became one of the few American states to go directly to statehood without first being a territory, in the Compromise of 1850.

Agriculture and ranching expanded throughout the state to meet the needs of the settlers. San Francisco grew from a small settlement of about 200 residents in 1846 to a boomtown of about 36,000 by 1852. Roads, churches, schools and other towns were built throughout California.

The Gold Rush had severe effects on Native Californians and resulted in a precipitous population decline from disease, genocide and starvation. Whole indigenous societies were attacked and pushed off their lands by the gold-seekers.

Gold worth tens of billions of todays dollars was recovered, which led to great wealth for a few. However, many returned home with little more than they had started with.

Tags: Gold Rush, California, Compromise of 1850

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