January 24, 1848, marked an important event in United States history when James Marshall discovered gold in California. The gold fever that followed this discovery overcame people from all over the world, causing them to flood the American West in search of wealth. 1849: The California Gold Rush offers a detailed look at the unfolding of the gold rush and the way in which it shaped the United States. The book can also be used to teach students how to make inferences and draw conclusions as well as to identify subject-verb agreement. The book and lesson are also available for levels O and R.