On the 2nd of February 1848, less than two weeks after the discovery of gold in California, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, which secured peace at the end of the two-year American-Mexican War. This was important for the United States, which obtained several bordering states and, essentially, the ownership of California. The latter was still part of Mexico in January 1848 when nuggets of gold were discovered in the American River near Coloma. A single article marked the unique event in a local newspaper in March of that year, but two months later, gold was again discovered by a local merchant, who ran through the streets holding a bottle of gold dust in his hands, shouting “Gold! Gold! Gold from the American River!” This finding changed everything.

After James Marshall discovered gold on the lower reaches of the American River, three Chinese – two men and a women – arrived at San Francisco on the American brig Eagle. after their successes, word quickly spread back to the South China Coast, that fabulous wealth was to be had in California. The number of immigrants grew to over 20,000 by 1852, a popular folk song that circulated in the Pearl River Delta demonstrates the momentum of Chinese immigration to California at the time.

* Noteworthy

1887 – In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the first Groundhog Day is observed.

1913 – Grand Central Terminal is opened in New York City.

1934 – The Export-Import Bank of the United States is incorporated.

1976 – The Groundhog Day gale hits the north-eastern United States and south-eastern Canada.