Many were determined to come to California just for the opportunity to make a better life. The dream of acquiring wealth in a matter of months has become a reality for some and a dream for others. The Gold Rush had a major impact on California economically, demographically, and socially, ultimately influencing the entire world. Thousands of immigrants came to America because of gold, boosting the country's economy. The gold rush did wonders to the US economy, people went out and spent more money once they "got rich" making merchants richer who would buy from others to be able to fill the need. Even though only a small amount of people got rich off gold, the wealth spread across the country and helped the U.S. economy be what it is today. He paved the way for California to become the most prosperous and diverse state in the Union. California has the highest population in the United States. San Francisco is what it is today because it was the main port for people from other countries. If the gold rush had never happened, this might not have been the case. Without the gold rush story as we know it today, it would have been