a) Statehood

A major development in California following the Gold Rush was its rapid journey to statehood. The Gold Rush brought a massive influx of settlers to the region, significantly increasing the population. This population boom and the economic development from gold mining expedited California’s path to becoming a state. In 1850, just two years after the Gold Rush began, California was admitted as the 31st state of the Union. This quick transition to statehood reflected the region’s significance and the rapid changes occurring in the American West.