Changing the American Dream How did the California Gold Rush change the American Dream? –Originally the American Dream was the simple life. Land, Family, Church, Farming, Raising Livestock etc. –A new life style develops that is entrepreneurial, free, and full of opportunity American Dream becomes –Materialistic, Get rich quick, Settle down later

Sutter and Marshall Who were John Sutter and James Marshall? What role did they play in starting the California Gold Rush? –John Sutter was a Swiss immigrant who started an agricultural empire before California was a state. –James Marshall was one of Sutter’s hired hands that discovered gold while building a sawmill When was gold discovered in California? –Marshall discovered gold on January 24 th 1848 What was Marshall doing when he made his discovery? –Marshall was building a sawmill that would produce lumber for Sutter’s growing agricultural society/ civilization in California.

The 49ers What were the people who moved west during the gold rush know as? Why where they known as this? –Those who left their Families, Jobs and Lifestyle to move to California became Known as 49ers Because many left for California in 1849.

People who “Struck it Big” Who were some of the people who got rich during the California Gold rush? –Sam Brannan –Levi Strauss –Henry Wells and William Fargo –Women

The Route to Riches What were the different routes people could take to get to California? –Sea Route 1- Around South America which took a little over six months 2- Through Panama –Overland Route 49ers took the Oregon and California trails to Sacramento. which took travelers about six months.

The Impact What was the impact of the gold rush? –The west was populated really quickly, so quickly it was lawless at first. –California was admitted as a free state into the Union. The disrupted the balance of power between Slave States and Free States in the United States Senate. –Lots of Native Americans were killed.