How did the gold rush affect life in California?

Answer 1

The gold rush was just the beginning of California's growth.

Soon after, California moved to the oil industries and flourished there. Until the oil was depleted, Californians moved to the secondary and tertiary sectors.

Technology was a source of capital. i.e. Silicone Valley.

How bout this, it made the select rich richer, and the majority of the poor poorer. The gap between the rich and the poor grew significantly.

I believe there is an article out there called California's gold rush, perhaps by Mike Davis. I'll check on that for you though.

Answer 2

California went from being a sleepy territory with fairly good land to statehood in a matter of a couple of years--the Gold Rush started in 1848, and California was admitted to the Union in 1850.

And from Wikipedia:

The effects of the Gold Rush were substantial. San Francisco grew from a tiny hamlet of tents to a boomtown, and roads, churches, schools and other towns were built. A system of laws and a government were created, leading to the admission of California as a state in 1850. New methods of transportation developed as steamships came into regular service and railroads were built. The business of agriculture, California's next major growth field, was started on a wide scale throughout the state. However, the Gold Rush also had negative effects: Native Americans were attacked and pushed off traditional lands, and gold mining caused environmental harm.

Answer 3

the population in California increased dramatically.