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