What was the Gold Rush?

The Gold Rush refers to the significant influx of people into California following the discovery of gold in 1848 at Sutter's Mill. This event sparked a mass migration, as thousands of prospectors and fortune-seekers, known as "49ers," traveled to California in hopes of striking it rich. The impact of the Gold Rush was profound, leading to rapid population growth, the establishment of new communities, and significant economic changes in the region. It also played a crucial role in the westward expansion of the United States and heightened the desire for statehood for California.

The other choices provide different contexts that do not accurately capture the essence of the Gold Rush. The series of strikes on Native American land implies conflict rather than the economic and social movement initiated by the gold discovery. An economic boom in the East, while a byproduct of the Gold Rush, does not directly relate to the event itself. Lastly, a war over land in the West does not specifically address the motivations and outcomes surrounding the Gold Rush, which revolved around the pursuit of gold rather than military contention.