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
The United States of America is a country deeply rooted in history, shaped by many significant events over the past several hundred years. From the arrival of Columbus, to the Pilgrims, the Revolution, the Civil War, both World Wars, and much more, these events have had a great impact on the future of America. However, one of the most often overlooked yet incredibly significant events in American history was the California Gold Rush of 1849. The discovery of gold in the western territories prompted hundreds of thousands of Americans to venture west. These mass migrations not only had many significant positive and negative impacts, but also created a prosperous future for the desolate and unforgiving western half of the country. The California
The discovery of gold nuggets in Sacramento Valley in 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush of 1849. Which is one of most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century. News spread of the discovery thousands of gold miners traveled over sea or overland to San Francisco and surrounding areas by the end of 1849. The non-native population of California territory was over 100,000, compared with the pre-1848 figure of less than 1,000. Two billion dollars worth of precious metal was extracted from the area during the Gold Rush peak in 1852.
On January 24, 1848 John W. Marshall discovered gold in California, which set its foundation for California's future success. The Gold Rush gave California's motto of, "Eureka" meaning "I've found it." The Gold Rush made California a commercial hub that made America a melting pot by drawing many cultures from around the globe to seek better opportunities and make more money than they ever would. This created an expansion of the nation in America. Although it increased population in California there were difficulties and problems encounters between Chinese immigrants, the rich, and miners.
The California Gold Rush one of the biggest events in the U.S History. The Gold Rush was when gold was found by James .W. Marshall in 1848 in San Francisco, California. When this happened, emotions sparked in San Francisco (main site for the Gold Rush). The word spread so quickly that people from all around the Unites States flooded into San Francisco and causing overpopulation(“California Gold Rush”). In 6 years during the Gold Rush, the population increased by almost 36,000 residents(“California Gold Rush”). Overpopulation set in, and it was a major problem. This problem increased murders, fires, robberies and overall just many crimes(“The California Gold Rush”). More people means more houses being taken, and a
The California gold rush is often chronicled as a period in American history revolving around wealth and riches. However, the Gold Rush was a major cause for both domestic and international conflict during the 1840’s and 1850’s. The awe for gold in America began in January 1848, when James Marshall found what is known as the first nugget of gold in California at Sutter’s Mill (McGill). Although the exciting news did not get to the rest of the country immediately, many still knew about the gold sighting. Sam Brannan, a local businessman, told people in neighboring towns of what Marshall had seen, and people began to flock to the land surrounding Sutter’s Mill (McGill)
The Gold Rush was one of the most influential times in California History. During the four years from 1848-1852, 400,000 new people flooded into the state. People from many countries and social classes moved to California, and many of them settled in San Francisco. All this diversity in one place created a very interesting dynamic. California during the Gold Rush, was a place of colliding ideals. The 49ers came from a very structured kind of life to a place where one was free to make up her own rules.
The news of the discovery of gold spread quickly to every corner of the world, and people gradually started to come to California from groups of dozens to ten thousands. J.S. Holiday in his book Rush for Riches described the migration of the people as, “For years thereafter, gold seekers by the hard to count thousands pushed ashore at California’s suddenly famous city” (83). Because population of California had grown excessively, California began to develop. New towns, roads, churches, and schools sprung up. William Weber Johnson wrote in his informative book The Forty-Niners“A potential town was born when a prospector squatting at a wilderness stream washed out a pan full of gold bearing dirt…
The commencement of the California Gold Rush was on January 24th, 1848 and ceased in the year of 1855. The Gold Rush migration began when James W. Marshall, originally a sawmill operator, discovered a piece of gold at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California. Initially, he was at the sight trying to build a sawmill. Furthermore, within just one year, the mass migration quickly began to grow. The mass migration brought approximately three hundred thousand people across state borders and from abroad to locate the gold that was discovered at Sutter’s Mill. There was a diverse amount of people that migrated to California in search of the mysterious gold, which included; young American men, people from South America, Europe, and some other countries. As the news quickly dispersed throughout the United States, the mass migration generated more than seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds of gold from the time the California Gold Rush began and ended. The California Gold Rush did not reach its peak until 1849, however; miners still collected roughly one hundred thousand pounds of gold each year. Overall, between the few years the Gold Rush occurred, approximately seven hundred thousand pounds of gold
The California Gold Rush was an event that lasted from January 24th, 1848 to 1855. The event was driven mainly by the large quantities of gold reserves that were discovered in the soon to be US state of California. This event caused many Americans to move from the eastern states and middle states to California with the hopes of finding gold. In this paper, I will analyze the economy at the time the gold rush started and attempt to answer the question of why individuals found it necessary or advantageous to move out to California in pursuit of gold. I will also consider personal accounts and editorials written to gain a more personal narrative of the conditions people were experiencing as well as their mindsets in deciding whether to move to California for the gold or not.
The discovery of the California Gold Rush took place by chance. Mainly the amount of the world’s gold is deep underground and embedded in hard rock. Unlike anywhere else in the world at that time the gold in California was simple to dig up, free for the taking and required little tools to acquire any gold. Only things required: a pick or shovel and a pan to shift out the gold from the rock, sand and debris. The Gold Rush affected not only California, but the outcome of the nation. Creating the expansion of our nation into Western America and California. Hundreds of thousand Americans and foreigners moved toward the Sierra Nevada’s, with the hopes of sticking it rich. Which impacted the social life and the economy, while effected the rest of the country. Producing a number of diverse people seeking to make a fortune, influenced California and the American life.
“To many Californians the mention of January 24, 1948, conveys no special meaning, nor is that date widely commemorated in the state. Yet it had a special significance in the history of California, for on that day James Marshall, a moody carpenter from Missouri, discovered the first gold nuggets that resulted in a stampede known as the California Gold Rush.” The California Gold Rush drew in thousands of white settlers, all seeking a better life and a chance
When the California Gold Rush took off almost everyone wanted to try their luck in California, and the first thing they had to do is get there. If you on the eastern side of the United State or from European you had two choices to get to California they were the sea or land route, but if you were on the Pacific Ocean coast you direct sea route to there. The land route took you across the great United State through some of its most extremes weather and terrain, and traveler had survived the untamed west on their own and what they bring. Also, they had to struggle against diseases outbreaks such as Cholera which the text said, “As many as 1500 travelers died from Cholera along the Overland Trail in 1849” (Gillon, 298). The most popular route
The hardships of joining the California gold rush was done by many in attempt of richness. The California gold rush was a popular time in America’s history when gold was found in California. Creating chaos the population of California increased greatly as others came to search for gold. While, the gold rush increased California’s population and economy it was also the beginning of Manifest Destiny. Though, the gold rush helped California it had an overall negative effect on America through overcrowded population and outbreaks of cholera.
In clubs the members would choose a representative and help pay his way in return for part of his profit. One route to the gold fields was to go by ship from the East Coast of the United States all the way around Cape Horn and then to San Francisco. This could take six months or more depending on the weather that the ship ran into. It was a very boring trip so the miners would read anything they had, play games, debate, sketch, and record wildlife. Another problem with the long voyage was that it was impossible to keep enough food adequate for the whole trip. The miners often ended up eating hardtack and diseased water; scurvy was very common because of a lack of fruits and vitamins. The ships were overcrowded and many were not seaworthy, since they were old ships that had been pressed into service by the high demand. Because overcrowding was so great if one miner got sick it could quickly spread and kill many. The challenges of this route were vast and those who survived and actually made it to California were already prepared for the hardships of mining. Although this route was long, difficult and expensive the others were not any better.
During the California Gold Rush and transition to statehood, California endured many economic, sociological, political, and environmental changes.