The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848 until 1855 when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California.[1] This attracted 300,000 people to California from America and abroad. American economy hit a boom during this time and the number of residents in San Francisco alone rose from about 200 in 1846 to about 36,000 by 1852. In 1849 a state constitution was written.

Martin Luther King Jr. (15.01.1929 – 04.04.1968) was a black American Baptist minister who believed in racial equality and helped lead in the Civil Rights Movement. He believed in using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. King also helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to combat racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. Hundreds of streets in the U.S. have been renamed in his honor, and a county in Washington State was also renamed for him. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 2011.

Film and Music: The United States is famous around the world as a producer of culture, and the country's film industry is unrivaled in terms of revenue and influence. American cinema is known the world over, and the country's blockbuster motion pictures, such as "Avatar," "Titanic" and "The Avengers," rank among the highest grossing films of all time. Directors like Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock are highly respected figures in world cinema.America is also famous for its many unique styles of music. Blues, jazz and rock music are all specifically American inventions. The blues developed in American South in the late 19th century, growing out African American religious hymns and work songs. One of the most influential styles in American music, blues is a primary influence on jazz, rock and country music. Jazz developed in the early 20th century, as figures like Louie Armstrong helped to define this highly improvisational form of music. Rock music grew out of the blues and country in the 1950s, with artists such as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. American rock achieved even greater cultural prominence in the 1960s, with artists such as Jimi Hendrix and The Beach Boys.