The California Gold Rush. Gold has been discovered! In January 24,1848, James Marshall discovered gold in California. In January 24,1848, James Marshall.

The California Gold RushThe California Gold Rush

Gold has been discovered!Gold has been discovered!

In January 24,1848, James Marshall In January 24,1848, James Marshall discovered gold in California.discovered gold in California.

He had been working at building a mill He had been working at building a mill for John Sutter and saw “something for John Sutter and saw “something shining” in the American River.shining” in the American River.

In 1849, the California Gold Rush began, In 1849, the California Gold Rush began, and one of the greatest voluntary and one of the greatest voluntary migrations in American history.migrations in American history.

California before goldCalifornia before gold

Home to 150,000 Native AmericansHome to 150,000 Native Americans And 6,000 And 6,000 CaliforniosCalifornios: settlers of Spanish : settlers of Spanish

or Mexican descent.or Mexican descent. Cattle ranching was the big industry.Cattle ranching was the big industry. Spain had looked for gold for years but Spain had looked for gold for years but

never found.never found. In February of 1848, the Mexican In February of 1848, the Mexican

American War ended, giving the U.S. land American War ended, giving the U.S. land from Texas to California. (Gold had been from Texas to California. (Gold had been discovered 10 days before the treaty was discovered 10 days before the treaty was signed.)signed.)

Routes to CaliforniaRoutes to California

Sail 18,000 miles around South America Sail 18,000 miles around South America at Cape Horn and up the Pacific coast—at Cape Horn and up the Pacific coast—enduring storms, seasickness and enduring storms, seasickness and spoiled food.spoiled food.

Sial to the Isthmus of Panama, cross Sial to the Isthmus of Panama, cross overland, and then sail north to overland, and then sail north to California---risk of catching a deadly California---risk of catching a deadly tropical disease.tropical disease.

Travel a trail across North America—Travel a trail across North America—going over rivers, prairies, and going over rivers, prairies, and mountains.mountains.

A Typical ’49erA Typical ’49er

Young menYoung men2/3 were white Americans2/3 were white AmericansNative Americans, free blacks and Native Americans, free blacks and

slaves also worked the mines.slaves also worked the mines.Other miners came from Europe, Other miners came from Europe,

South America, Australia, and China.South America, Australia, and China.Lived in rows of tents usually, some Lived in rows of tents usually, some

built wood cabins on the river.built wood cabins on the river.

Few miners got rich.Few miners got rich.ExhaustionExhaustionPoor foodPoor foodDiseaseDiseaseHigh prices for basic goodsHigh prices for basic goods

Growth of TownsGrowth of Towns

Towns along the California coast grew.Towns along the California coast grew.SacramentoSacramentoSan FranciscoSan Francisco

Stores, hotels, laundries, etc were built.Stores, hotels, laundries, etc were built.Few women lived in California and ones Few women lived in California and ones

that baked or did laundry could earn a that baked or did laundry could earn a good living and had plenty of choices for good living and had plenty of choices for a husband.a husband.

Long Lasting Changes-Long Lasting Changes-PositivePositive

Gold Rush peaked in 1852.Gold Rush peaked in 1852.250,000 people had migrated to 250,000 people had migrated to

California.California.California had enough people to be California had enough people to be

admitted as a state in 1850—free admitted as a state in 1850—free state.state.

Slaves who had been working the Slaves who had been working the mines were free, and many worked to mines were free, and many worked to buy the freedom of family members.buy the freedom of family members.

Long Lasting Changes-Long Lasting Changes-NegativeNegative

CaliforniosCalifornios were ruined on land and denied were ruined on land and denied legal rights.legal rights.

Thousands of Native Americans died of Thousands of Native Americans died of disease and settlers killed thousands disease and settlers killed thousands more. Hunting and fishing grounds were more. Hunting and fishing grounds were taken over. Population fell to 58,000.taken over. Population fell to 58,000.

Foreign Miners Tax—all foreigners had to Foreign Miners Tax—all foreigners had to pay $20 a month for mining. Many pay $20 a month for mining. Many Chinese opened shops, restaurants and Chinese opened shops, restaurants and laundries. Areas where Chinese lived laundries. Areas where Chinese lived became Chinatowns.became Chinatowns.

How do we know all this?How do we know all this?

Many of the miners kept diaries that Many of the miners kept diaries that have been published.have been published.

Letters were written from miners to Letters were written from miners to families back home in the east.families back home in the east.

Newspapers reported accounts of Newspapers reported accounts of those traveling.those traveling.

Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider

How were the families left at home How were the families left at home affected?affected?

What were women and children thinking What were women and children thinking who went to California?who went to California?

What do you do if you don’t find gold?What do you do if you don’t find gold?What if Spain or Mexico had discovered What if Spain or Mexico had discovered

the gold a year before the end of the the gold a year before the end of the war?war?

How was the nation transformed by the How was the nation transformed by the Gold Rush?Gold Rush?

Information taken from:Information taken from:Dallek, Robert and others. Dallek, Robert and others. American American

History: Beginnings through History: Beginnings through ReconstructionReconstruction (Evanston, IL: (Evanston, IL: McDougal Littel), 2007.McDougal Littel), 2007.

The Overland RouteThe Overland Route

From the EastFrom the East

Many Americans who lived in states Many Americans who lived in states from New York to Georgia went west.from New York to Georgia went west.

Many had to find a way to Missouri Many had to find a way to Missouri where they would get supplies and where they would get supplies and then go west from there.then go west from there.

Starting off points included: Starting off points included: Independence, MO, St. Joseph, MO, Independence, MO, St. Joseph, MO, Council Bluffs, IA.Council Bluffs, IA.

Sometimes men from a community Sometimes men from a community would go together, or families, or would go together, or families, or individuals would go.individuals would go.

Along the way they would form Along the way they would form companies. These companies would companies. These companies would stay together along the trip for stay together along the trip for protection and to split the duties of protection and to split the duties of cooking and guarding the wagons at cooking and guarding the wagons at night.night.

They would also makes decisions about They would also makes decisions about what route to take or what cut-off to what route to take or what cut-off to take.take.

To prepare to go west, men needed to:To prepare to go west, men needed to:Make sure their families were cared forMake sure their families were cared forHave money to buy suppliesHave money to buy suppliesHave a map or a field guide to know which Have a map or a field guide to know which

way to go and what to encounter out West.way to go and what to encounter out West.

Things to Consider on the Things to Consider on the TrailTrail

Indians—were feared because they Indians—were feared because they could attack a wagon train (though could attack a wagon train (though many never saw one Indian)many never saw one Indian)

Grass for oxen and horses—with Grass for oxen and horses—with thousands going overland, grass thousands going overland, grass could only be found a few miles off could only be found a few miles off the trailthe trail

WaterWater

Daily Life on the TrailDaily Life on the Trail

Start early with breakfast (usually Start early with breakfast (usually corn meal, bacon, and coffee)corn meal, bacon, and coffee)

Break down camp and tents and Break down camp and tents and pack them back on the wagon. pack them back on the wagon. (Many had to unload unnecessary (Many had to unload unnecessary items as they made their way west)items as they made their way west)

Travel about 20 miles in a long train Travel about 20 miles in a long train of wagons. Dust could be so thick to of wagons. Dust could be so thick to make the road not visible.make the road not visible.

Find a place to camp.Find a place to camp.Unpack tents.Unpack tents.Eat.Eat.Have guard duty.Have guard duty.Sleep.Sleep.

Trials along the TrailTrials along the Trail

Crossing rivers: long lines could make Crossing rivers: long lines could make a wagon wait for days.a wagon wait for days.

No grass: meant oxen and horses No grass: meant oxen and horses would wear down.would wear down.

Getting to the mountains: what path Getting to the mountains: what path to take to get to California the to take to get to California the quickest and not get caught in a quickest and not get caught in a winter storm.winter storm.

Trip took about 7 months.Trip took about 7 months.

In California at the minesIn California at the mines

After the long trek, many miners had After the long trek, many miners had to buy new supplies.to buy new supplies.

Needed a pan, pick axe, shovel.Needed a pan, pick axe, shovel.They would then find a place on the They would then find a place on the

river that wasn’t claimed, and start river that wasn’t claimed, and start panning for gold.panning for gold.

Some could find about $10 a day.Some could find about $10 a day.Prices for items was high.Prices for items was high.

Story of William SwainStory of William SwainLeft Youngstown, New York, in April of Left Youngstown, New York, in April of

1849.1849.Traveled by the Great Lakes, down the Traveled by the Great Lakes, down the

Illinois River, by the Missouri River to Illinois River, by the Missouri River to Independence.Independence.

Joined up with a company of men from Joined up with a company of men from Michigan.Michigan.

Kept a diary daily. Left his family (wife Kept a diary daily. Left his family (wife and daughter) in the care of his and daughter) in the care of his brother. brother.

The Cost of Outfitting a TeamThe Cost of Outfitting a Team

Oxen sold for $40-50 a yoke (chosen Oxen sold for $40-50 a yoke (chosen by Swain)by Swain)

Mules sold for $50-70 a yoke Mules sold for $50-70 a yoke Conestoga wagon: $48 if bought in Conestoga wagon: $48 if bought in

Chicago, $115 in Independence.Chicago, $115 in Independence.Medicine chest $200.Medicine chest $200.

Went from Independence to Fort Went from Independence to Fort Kearny, to Fort Laramie. Took their Kearny, to Fort Laramie. Took their time and rested their oxen more than time and rested their oxen more than most.most.

Used Lassen’s Cut-off. Many claimed Used Lassen’s Cut-off. Many claimed that this was a quicker way, however that this was a quicker way, however it turned out to be rougher.it turned out to be rougher.

The company of men split and finished The company of men split and finished the route in pairs with a mule.the route in pairs with a mule.

““I’ve Seen the Elephant”I’ve Seen the Elephant”Common phrase used by miners who Common phrase used by miners who

had experienced the hardships of the had experienced the hardships of the trail and the mines.trail and the mines.

Analogy: most people want to see a Analogy: most people want to see a real elephant, and when they do they real elephant, and when they do they are overwhelmed by the size.are overwhelmed by the size.

Most wanted to go west for easy Most wanted to go west for easy money and once they experienced the money and once they experienced the hard life, they had “seen the elephant”hard life, they had “seen the elephant”

Swain in “the diggings”Swain in “the diggings”

By taking the Carson and Truckee By taking the Carson and Truckee trails, thousands had reached the trails, thousands had reached the gold mines before Swain and his gold mines before Swain and his crew.crew.

First mined at South Fork of the First mined at South Fork of the Feather River.Feather River.

Built a log cabin. (most lived in tents)Built a log cabin. (most lived in tents)

Prices in CaliforniaPrices in California

Pork: $1.25Pork: $1.25Beans: $1.00Beans: $1.00Sugar: $.75Sugar: $.75Coffee: $.50Coffee: $.50Pickaxes: $8Pickaxes: $8Coffee pots: $6Coffee pots: $6Frying pans: $6Frying pans: $6

In 1850, Swain and his friends left In 1850, Swain and his friends left the Feather River and went to the the Feather River and went to the Yuba.Yuba.

This made Swain This made Swain

Choose to stay in Choose to stay in

California a year longer.California a year longer.

The EndingThe EndingToward the end of 1850 and beginning Toward the end of 1850 and beginning

of 1851, Swain decided to go home.of 1851, Swain decided to go home.He had $500 in gold dust.He had $500 in gold dust.He went home by sailing to Panama, He went home by sailing to Panama,

crossed the Isthmus and sailed up the crossed the Isthmus and sailed up the Atlantic Coast.Atlantic Coast.

William Swain went back to his farm in William Swain went back to his farm in Youngstown. He told his stories about Youngstown. He told his stories about going west until his death in 1904.going west until his death in 1904.

Biswell FamilyBiswell Family

You will read letters from two You will read letters from two brothers from Huntsville, MO, who brothers from Huntsville, MO, who went west to California.went west to California.

They wrote letters home about their They wrote letters home about their trip. trip.

Compare and contrast their trip with Compare and contrast their trip with that of William Swain.that of William Swain.

Notes taken from:Notes taken from:Holliday, J.S. Holliday, J.S. The World Rushed InThe World Rushed In

(New York: Simon and Schuster), (New York: Simon and Schuster), 1981.1981.