12.4 California and Utah

What factors affected the settlement of California and Utah in the West? Factors Caused rapid growth in population and in economic activity Growth led to need for more effective government Wrote state constitution and received statehood in 1850 Gold Rush Religious Freedom (Mormons) California, Utah, or Both Both California Utah

I. California Gold Rush 1848 = Gold discovered in California Forty-niners = those who arrived in California in 1849 in search of gold California Gold Rush = gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill in 1849 caused several to migrate to California, this event more than doubled the world’s supply of gold

A. The Californios Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended War with Mexico and made Californios US citizens Treaty also guaranteed them rights to their lands Land Law of 1851 = group of reviewers who examined Californios’ land rights, many Californios lost land because its was based on heritage not legal right

B. Life in California Boomtown = Communities that were built over- night by the forty-niners Cities grew rapidly Many forty-niners had no experience mining and very few found wealth Boomtown merchants made huge profits off the forty-niners Levi Strauss = immigrant who sold miners sturdy pants made of denim, company still exists today

C. Gold Rush Society Men from all backgrounds, few women Men spent time drinking, gambling and fighting No police or prisons Vigilantes = took the law into their own hands, they acted as police, judge, jury and executioner all at the same time

D. Economic and Political Progress Effects of the Gold Rush on California: Agriculture, shipping and trade grew Many who tried to find gold and failed stayed to farm or start other business Rapid growth = need for government Due to California wanted to enter as a free state, their annexation was delayed until a compromise was reached

II. A Religious Refuge in Utah (spotlight video 12.4)spotlight video 12.4 Mormons = form of Christianity, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mormons settled in Utah

A. The First Mormons Joseph Smith = founder of Mormon Church, received visions that told him to create the Mormon faith, he wanted to use his visions to create an ideal society Mormons formed community in New York, but were forced to leave 1839 = bought town of Commerce, Illinois and renamed it Nauvoo Persecution continued and in 1844 a mob killed Joseph Smith Brigham Young = took over leadership of the Mormons after Joseph Smith’s death, took Mormons to Utah to escape religious persecution

B. A Haven in the Desert Mormon Trail = 1846 = Mormon migration began Largest single migration in American History, 12,000 people Deseret = Mormon name for the settlement they established in Utah Mormons overcame hardships and succeeded in being self-sufficient President Fillmore makes Brigham Young governor of Utah Territory