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California Gold Rush Research Paper

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The California Gold Rush The California Gold Rush of 1849 was a major point in history that involved the colonization of the far west, the hunt for gold, and many issues to go along with it. During a period where nothing was really advancing or happening, many people began to look for a new job or a new way to make some form of money. In times like that, there are little to no jobs available. Some people managed to fine gold in the west, and a lot of it, specifically located in California. As people began telling others about it, the information eventually spread throughout the continent. Eventually, thousands of people were migrating out west in search of gold to get rich on. There were various upsides and downsides to moving out to California in search of gold. The first …show more content…

Journey via wagon was likely the safest route to take to California, as the only things that can kill you are starvation, animals, weather, and disease. If you walk, the risk of starvation or dehydration is much much worse. By boat is even worse because most boat trips were longer and if bad weather was encountered on the journey, the seas could claim lives. The trip there regardless of path taken was always flooded with dangerous and often highly contagious diseases such as cholera, measles, and small pox. The land trips were accompanied by many dangerous animals such as snakes, wolves, bears, mountain lions, and many other lethal and poisonous animals. Over one third of the population who took the trip by road died en route to California. Many people were in a rush to get there, as traveling during winter time meant certain death to anyone heading to California. Often times the people that died or fell ill on the trek there were given short funerals or even had to watch their grave be dug by someone traveling with them, whether it be family member, friend, or passing stranger. These people were so obsessed with their own wealth for their own reasons that they

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