gold rush | History, Importance, & Facts | Britannica
gold rush, rapid influx of fortune seekers to the site of newly discovered gold deposits. Major gold rushes occurred in the United States, Australia, Canada, and South Africa in the 19th century. The first major gold strike in North America occurred near Dahlonega, Georgia, in the late 1820s. It was the impetus for the Indian Removal Act (1830) and led to the Trail of Tears. …