The West turned out to be the richest treasure trove of natural resources in the history of the civilized world. And the chance to get rich quick as a uniquely American article of faith was literally born in the West. With a single lucky break a person could be rich beyond the wildest dreams of the Spanish Conquistadors. And, for the first time in history the finder got to keep what he found. The California Gold Rush and the ones that followed across the West brought on the greatest mass migrat


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