Answer:
It greatly increased the population, as thousands of gold-seekers traveled to the West and settled there.
Explanation:
The American West’s life changed deeply during the mid-1800s. When the gold rush started in California in 1849 all kinds of people moved to the West seeking new opportunities. Also, many immigrants from all over the world went to the US, Chinese, Europeans, South Americans, and others. The West that was seen as an obstacle became a place of opportunities and became more and more populated.
