The Gold Rush
Primary Sources of Immigration and Migration in America
News of the gold rush spread like wildfire to people around the world. Immigrants flocked to the gold fields of California hoping to strike it rich. Many Chinese immigrants viewed the gold rush as a chance to help support desperately poor families in China. By the time they arrived, though, there was little gold left and they were forced to find other work. Hard working and patient, the Chinese found jobs in many areas, including working on the transcontinental railroad.