1/24 【美国历史上的今天】加州淘金潮开始，产生了什么影响？

美国历史上的今天

加州淘金潮

每天一篇《美国历史上的今天》，提炼和总结历史在今天发生的重要事件：谁，在哪里，什么时候，做了什么，这件事为什么重要、以及在写关于什么主题的论文的时候可以作为潜在论据引用。

每天半分钟，轻松积累史实

为AP历史拿5分打下坚实基础

When: Jan 24, 1848

What: The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's 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 today's 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