Gold rush
- Created by: alicemae1407
- Created on: 09-02-17 20:03
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- Gold Rush
- Found in California in 1848
- Gold was found by James Marshall, working at John Sutter's sawmill in California
- January 1848
- 9 days before California changed hands from Mexico to USA
- News leaked and people went crazy with 'Gold fever'
- In December President Polk boasted in his message to Congress of the riches to be found
- Soon there were tens of thousands of fortune-seekers coming to California
- Known as the 49ers
- During 1848-1842 the non-native American population rose from a estimation 14000 to about 225000.
- Many lived in makeshift camps, some of which grew into mining towns
- Some came by settlers' trails others by sea
- Some came to run service industries; store keepers, saloon owners, prostitution etc
- Gold was found by James Marshall, working at John Sutter's sawmill in California
- Not everyone made a fortune
- The first gold was found by panning the stream beds
- Most people only came equipped for this method, but the streams were soon exhausted and expensive underground mining took over
- Prices for everything were huge, including transport home
- Many 49ers had little choice, work for mining companies in foul conditions or starve
- The first gold was found by panning the stream beds
- Problems with law and order
- Criminals were attracted to the Gold Rush
- Until 1866, the USA had no law regulating mining claims
- The minders had to organise their own system for recording and defending claims
- They formed their own miners' court. They had no permanent prison, so death sentences were often carried out
- As some mining towns grew, committees of civic-minded people arranged for full municipal government
- Native Americans and the environment suffered
- In California the Native American population dropped from around 15000 to less tjan 30000 during 1845-1870
- Chemicals used for mining polluted the environment
- Found in California in 1848
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