The California Gold Rush began in 1848. This transformed California into a rapidly growing state. The Gold Rush affected Native Americans. The people already living on the land never knew that the mineral found in their water and soil was valuable. They were forced to leave their land and struggled to survive due to the sudden influx of people. (“The Gold Rush” 191-193) The gold rush was primarily beneficial, but it also clouded relationships with the natives. The buffalo was an important part of Native American culture. Whites slaughtered the buffalo, leaving the creature's population dwindling. The Plains tribes were generally peaceful, but white settlers and explorers disturbed them and their way of life. (“Plains Indian Wars” 1235) The Americans were very greedy as they moved west, and this caused many conflicts among the Native Americans. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acres of land to families and individuals with a householder at least twenty-one years of age. While this was a very tempting offer, once people moved west, the land was often mountainous with rocky terrain that could not be farmed. Settlers sold the land to pioneers eager to find gold and left in search of better farmland due to these conditions. (“Homestead Act” 704-706) This encouraged people to move west, despite the downturns in the geography of much of the land. The lack of natural resources has caused many problems, but it has also benefited the country by creating wealth and attracting people from other countries