Final answer:
The California Gold Rush, beginning with the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, saw a massive movement of people to California in search of wealth, transforming the state's demographics and accelerating its path to statehood.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed pertains to the California Gold Rush, a historical event marked by the mass influx of prospectors following the discovery of gold in California in 1848. The Gold Rush led to the swift population increase in the area, resulting in significant economic, social, and demographic changes. Popularly known as the forty-niners, thousands of individuals migrated to California in 1849, driven by the allure of striking it rich. Communities rapidly formed, with San Francisco transforming from a small town into a burgeoning city. Notably, not only prospectors but also businesses such as saloons, stores, and entertainment venues, sought to profit from the influx of newcomers. The Gold Rush had far-reaching effects, one of which was the acceleration of California's application for statehood, altering earlier assumptions about the timeline of state formation from the territories acquired in the Mexican Cession. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill is often credited as the event that started the Gold Rush, and it signified the beginning of what would be a pattern of boom-and-bust cycles throughout the Western United States. The historical impact of the California Gold Rush cannot be understated, as it caused a marked movement of people and contributed to the shaping of the United States during the 19th century.