On January 24, 1848, a farmer found a few tiny gold nuggets near Sacramento. Soon a halr-million people from aroun the world go to California for gold. By the winter of 1848, the gold rush was a boom. When President James Polk talked about the gold in California a lot of people left for Sacramento. Farmers left their fields; merchants closed their shops; and soldiers left their posts. Thy all made plans for California. By early 1849, people all over the country talked about the gold rush. Young husbands left their wives and kids. They promised they would come back with gold. They were called “Forty Niners” because they left home in 1849. They all dreamed of being rich. The gold in California finally ran out. However, the gold rush played an important role in California. The ”Forty Niners” helped build many cities of California. Many of them didn’t go back home. They are remembered as adventurers.