California Gold RushThe California Gold Rush is one of the largest events in the history of the United States. The Gold Rush occurred when gold was found by James .W. Marshall in 1848 in San Francisco, California. When this happened, emotions ran wild in San Francisco (principal site of the gold rush). Word spread so quickly that people from all over the United States flocked to San Francisco, resulting in overpopulation ("California Gold Rush"). In 6 years during the Gold Rush, the population increased by nearly 36,000 residents ("California Gold Rush"). Overpopulation set in and was a big problem. This problem increased murders, fires, robberies and, in general, many crimes ("The California Gold Rush"). More people meant more occupied homes and most of the time people had somewhere to sleep. This is the effect the California Gold Rush had on San Francisco. The California Gold Rush was a popular event in United States history. A big part of the gold rush was overpopulation. There were so many people coming to San Francisco when the gold was found. Only about 200 residents lived in San Francisco before gold was found by Marshall in 1848 ("California Gold Rush"). When the gold was found, word spread very quickly. People heard about it and quickly boarded trains to San Francisco. It was previously said that in 1846 there were about 200 residents in San Francisco, and then 2 years later gold was found, thus starting the California Gold Rush. Four years after the Gold Rush of 1852, there were more than 36,000 residents in San Francisco ("California Gold Rush"). It caused so much overpopulation, and it had huge effects on San Francisco. Now, when any place, like San Francisco, outweighs the pop… middle of paper… people, which has caused a lot more crime. There wasn't enough for everyone, people would have no money and would have to sleep on the streets. Some could not buy food and therefore stole or killed. Furthermore, so many diseases were spreading that would cause death. Other types of crimes were also robberies, kidnappings and fires. In the end people would leave empty-handed, something they never dreamed of doing ("California Gold Rush"). There were many negatives to the gold rush, but also positives, such as a better economy. “The California Gold Rush.” The California Gold Rush. Np, nd Web. January 27, 2014. “California Gold Rush.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, January 24, 2014. Web. January 25, 2014. “The Effects of the Gold Rush.” The effects of the gold rush. Np, nd Web. January 24, 2014.Lapp, Rudolph M. Neri in the California Gold Rush. New Haven: Yale UP, 1977. Print.