introduction

James Marshall and Samuel Brannan**
 * __The Gold Rush-1849__

"Gold! Gold! Gold from the American River!" The words from Samuel Brannan while running through the streets of California. The California Gold Rush was a spectacular time in U.S. history that changed the lives of many people throughout the U.S. as well as around parts of the world. This will explain many facts about this time period, how the Gold Rush was started, and the people who were involved in it. By early 1848, gold fever was an epidemic. Discussion about gold could be heard at nearly every kitchen in the nation. The Gold Rush was one of those things that once you heard about it you would be interested. When the word got out about the great findings of gold, people throughout the world raced to be the first there to get rich and find the gold for them. Many men left their families in order to have a chance at becoming really rich.