The result of the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century in the United States was the rapid westward expansion and settlement of the American West. Starting in 1848, the discovery of gold in California attracted hundreds of thousands of prospectors, resulting in a population boom, the establishment of new towns, and economic growth. This influx of settlers often led to the displacement of Native American populations and increased tension over land ownership. Additionally, the Gold Rush played a significant role in the debate over slavery's expansion into new territories, contributing to the sectional conflicts that would eventually lead to the Civil War.