The Georgia Gold Rush began in 1828 when gold was discovered in the hills of northern Georgia. This event attracted thousands of prospectors, known as "49ers," who flocked to the area in search of fortune. The rush led to the establishment of mining towns and significantly impacted the local economy and population growth. As the gold rush progressed, it also resulted in the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands, culminating in the Trail of Tears. By the mid-1830s, gold production began to decline, but the rush had already transformed Georgia and set the stage for future mining activities in the region.