The California Gold Rush occurred in which year?

• A. 1700
• B. 1800
• C. 1849
• D. 1914

Answer: (C)

This question tests knowledge of when the major mid-1800s Westward migration known as the California Gold Rush happened. The spark was the discovery at Sutter’s Mill in 1848, but the mass influx of settlers and the cultural and economic impact are most closely associated with 1849. That year saw thousands of people from across the United States and abroad descend on California in search of gold, leading to rapid settlement, explosive growth of mining towns (especially San Francisco), and a swift push for California to become a state. The other dates don’t fit: 1700 and 1800 come before the discovery, while 1914 is long after the rush had reshaped the region.