The California Gold Rush, which began after the discovery of gold in 1848, was about much more than people trying to strike it rich. It was a total reshaping of the United States because of thousands making the arduous trek to the West Coast by land and sea. Some even came from Asia and Europe. In this noteworthy book, this important episode in American history is told through text crafted for the struggling reader. Interesting fact boxes and carefully selected images and photographs are especially motivating.