January 24, 1848
Gold is struck near Sacramento, California. Within one year, 90,000 people will catch gold fever and move to California, mining 10 million ounces of gold. America's focus moves west, and soon railroads, banks and telegraphs will branch out toward the Pacific Ocean too.
1859
As a result of its crippling loss to France and Britain in the Crimean War, Russia reconsiders selling Alaska to the United States to help its economy rebound following the financial losses of the war.
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