hw#24 the california gold rush of 1849
TRANSCRIPT
The California Gold Rush of 1849
Sutter’s Mill
In January of 1848, James Marshall a carpenter working for John Sutter, finds gold in a river near Sutter’s Mill!
Mill= a factory
Sutter’s Mill Location
Eureka! “I reached my hand down and picked it
up; it made my heart trump, for I was certain it was gold.” – James Marshall
Eureka= a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers
something.
Oro! Oro! Oro!
After the discovery, Sutter and Marshall both agreed to keep the discovery a secret, but when they went to investigate the next day, they found a Spanish-speaking Native American holding a gold nugget shouting “Oro! Oro! Oro!”
Extra! Extra!
News of the discovery of gold soon spread across the country like wild fire.
Forty-Niners
A group of 80,000 gold-seekers, called forty-niner, traveled to California in hope of striking it rich.
80% of the 49ers were American.
Gold Fever “At that time the ‘gold fever’ was contagious,
and few, old or young escaped the malady [sickness]”
Gold Mining Equipment
Gold MiningGold mining required very strong pants as miners constantly
ripped their pants… so Levis Strauss invented jeans!
Gold Mining
Chinese immigrants & the Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush brought a large number of Chinese to America.
They looked for better opportunities and hoped to become rich.
Chinese immigrants
The Chinese Miners Faced: Harsh Working Conditions Discrimination
The positive effects of the gold rush
Towns and cities were charted
Roads, schools, and churches were formed
Improved transportation between California and the east coast
All of thesedevelopments led to thestatehood of Californiaon September 9th, 1850as the 31st state.
Boomtown - The General Store, Corinne, Boxelder Co., Utah
Boomtowns - towns that grew up near major mining sites
Some boom towns developed into cities, such as Denver, CO, and Reno, NV.
Many of these new towns became abandoned ghost towns when the ore disappeared.
Silver City, Idaho
Trails to the West
It was the only practical, overland path for entering the western United States
The trail was about 2,000 miles
It would take about 6 months to cross
Pioneers started the trail in St. Louis or Independence, Missouri
The end of the trail is Oregon City
What is the Oregon Trail?
• The trip west lasted 5 to 6 months. • Pioneers began in the spring in order to
complete the trip before winter snows blocked the mountain passes.
• Dangers included:
About 1 out of every 10 pioneers died on the trail from either disease, overwork, hunger, or
accidents.
Disease – Cholera killed more emigrants than anything else
Crossing Rivers with out losing your wagon or drowning
Injuries – Usual no doctors - cuts and broken bones could become infected
Supply and quality of waterLack of food – run out and can’t huntWagons braking down on the trail