In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in California. That was the start of the Gold Rush Era. The first wave to hit California were nicknamed the 49'ers due to the fact that they left home in 1849. They left home promising to find their fortunes. Hundreds of thousands headed west seeking to find their fortunes and to start a new life.

Many went by wagon train with the phrase "California or Bust" on their lips and some even painted it on their wagons. They went with dreams of gold filled rivers waiting to be plundered; of hills rich with the metal just sitting there waiting to be plucked. Not all made it to California and once they did they found it wasn't as easy as they had dreamt or heard about in rumors.

The gold itself wasn't that hard to find but other things were. Things bought back east for pennies were now costing several dollars. Still these earlier pioneers were struck with Gold Fever and they would not settle for anything less.

The start of the Gold Rush Era was in:
1. 1849
2. 1848
3. 1948
Where was gold first discovered?
1. In Colorado
2. In Sutter's Mill California
Who were the 49ers?
1. A wave of migrants who knew that money was in California.
2. The people who first came to California because they hoped to find their wealth.
What is the meaning of the phrase "California or Bust" ?
1. California or Stay
2. California or Nothing
3. California or Die
What does the word PLUNDER mean?
1. steal goods from a place or person, typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder.
  "looters moved into the disaster area to plunder shops"
2. to present (someone) with a gift:
  just the thing to gift the newlyweds.
Many of these people found that it was easy to make money.
1. True
2. False
Things that people wanted to buy in the West were
1. cheaper than the things they could buy in the East.
2. more expensive than things in the East.
3. as costly as things sold in the East.
This article is mainly about:
1. Early Californians
2. The 49ners
3. The Gold Rush