The Mining Booms Chapter 18, Section 1 Pgs

Lode A streak or abundance of minerals found underground sandwiched between two rocks

Ore Rocks or minerals found underground that are worth money

Vigilantes Someone who takes the law into their own hands and decides a person’s guilt or innocence without a trial.

Ghost Towns What a boomtown becomes when the gold runs out and all the people leave the town deserted.

Subsidy Money and/or land given to railroad companies by the government so that railroad construction would continue in the west.

Transcontinental Stretches across the continent from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

Pikes Peak The discovery of gold started a rush to Colorado.

Comstock Lode Discovery of silver-bearing ore started a rush to Nevada, giving birth to the boomtown of Virginia City.

Promontory Point Place in Utah Territory where two railroads met to make the first transcontinental railroad in the United States and connect the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Characteristics of Boomtowns Very rapid growth in population and wealth Expensive goods Lawlessness and violence with vigilante justice Few women

The Gold Rush Gold strikes attracted thousands of people eager to earn their fortunes. The rush also led to the creation of boomtowns.

The Mining Companies Mining companies took the place of the individual miner because the gold was underground. Expensive machinery, workers, and organization were needed to make a profit.

Gold and Silver Run Dry After the gold and silver were depleted, mining continued for copper, lead, and zinc. These raw materials could be sold to factories and markets for profit.

Subsidies The federal government agreed to subsidize the construction of the transcontinental railroad because it would benefit everyone in the country.

Transportation and Mining Transportation was needed to take the precious mineral away from the mines to the people who wanted them and to bring supplies to the miners.

Railroad Affects the Nation The railroad brought thousands of workers to the West Carried goods back and forth between East and West Boosted the coal, iron, and steel industries Led to the creation of new towns Led to standardized time zones