Lasting Effects of the Gold Rush of 1849
There were many lasting effects that the Gold Rush brought. One was definitely the migration and population of California. The gold rush was largely reinforced the idea of Manifest Destiny. The population of California grew tremendously, with almost 300,000 new arrivals by the mid 1850s. One in every 90 people in the United States was living in California. People traveled from all around the world to search for gold. Many men died, were in debt, lost all of there money, and were poor or sick within six months of reaching California. The population decreased in the other states across the United States, because everyone was moving to California. The Gold Rush was the largest mass migration in U.S. History. Some of those who were unlucky did not return home, but found land and got great wealth from farming. The gold rush also was a catastrophe to some. the peaceful people indigenous to the area were decimated and perished in great numbers from starvation, disease, abuse, and massacre. Their society, habitat, infrastructure and culture were destroyed. Lands and environments were destroyed because of floods of mud. Water was poisoned with mercury, arsenic, cyanide, and other toxins. Forests were leveled for mining timbers. The gold rush definitely had a lasting impact on the world.