The Calfifornia Gold Rush

The Calfifornia Gold Rush

The Calfifornia Gold Rush1848-1853

The BeginningThe Calfirornia Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848.John Marshall, a foreman at Sutters Mill, found gold in an American River, right outside the mill in Coloma, California. He showed John Sutter, the owner of the mill, his findings.

Sutters Mill Located in California

John Sutters SecretAt first, John Sutter didnt want to tell anyone about the findings. He was of German/Swiss Immigration and he wanted to create an agricultural empire in the United States called Nuevo Helvatia (New Switzerland). His secret was out after a Sacramento Newspaper issued the news all over the West Coast. Recognition on the East CoastOn August of 1848, the New York Herald was the first newspaper on the East Coast of the United States to confirm that there was a Gold Rush in California. On December 5, President James Polk told the Congress that there was Gold found in California. Location of the GoldThe gold was located mainly in the American River and other rivers around it. There were rumors that stated that Gold was in the entire area of California, but no one could prove that.

Maps of the Gold RushMap of CaliforniaMap of american river

Migration to CaliforniaPeople began to flock from all over to find the newly found gold. Immigration to California was started by the people in the Oregon County. People had settled there as early as 1840.After the people from Oregon, people began coming from the Hawaii Islands(Sandwich Islands)In the Autumn, new people were arriving from Mexico and in the Winter, people were arriving from all over South America. Foreigner LawThe American government decided that it wanted to give Americans a better chance to find gold.The Foreign Miner License Law- Any miner that was looking for gold that was NOT a U.S. Citizen had to pay a monthly fee of 20 dollars.

Wealth in the West Because of all the recognition, the Gold Rush was becoming more popular around the world. Restaurants, mining towns, mining technology, and shops with mining gear were all created, causing Californias economy to grow.

The End of the Gold Rush Because of everything that was happening, in 1852, many people ceased to move to California. The ways to fail became overwhelmingly larger than the was to succeed. The Gold Rush roughly ended around 1853, although there is still accounts of people looking for gold all the way up to the 1860s. Results of the Gold RushMining TechniquesMany mining techniques, such as panning and cradling, were developed during the California Gold Rush.Many people, such as Samuel Brannen, opened up stores to supply men with materials. These people would later get rich, due to the idea that they could have high prices, since there was such a demand.

Statehood of CaliforniaAs more and more people found out about the Gold Rush, more people were coming to California.It is said that over 100,000 people came to California in 1848-1849.Because of the mass amount of immigration to California, California became a state in California became a state on September 9th, 1850.

Anaylasis and EvaluationVenn Diagram and Pros and ConsPros and Cons of Migrating West

Your Decision Choose what you would pick?

Would you got to California and risk it all to become wealthy, or stay behind and live your normal, basic life. Support your answer with evidence. YES or NO