Chapter 12 Section 4 New Settlers in California and Utah

California Gold Rush Sutter’s Mill –In 1848 gold was discovered near Sacramento at a sawmill owned by John Sutter –Word soon leaked out. In 1849 over 80,000 people came to CA looking for gold –Most of the “forty-niners” were Americans, but others came from Mexico, South America, Europe, and Australia

The Californios The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 made them citizens of the U.S. and guaranteed them the rights to their lands The Land Law of 1851 required the Californios to prove they owned their lands. If a new settler claimed the land of a Californio, the courts resolved the dispute

Life in California New communities called boomtowns were built in areas where people searched for gold Cities such as San Francisco grew quickly Merchants made huge profits. Levi Strauss became rich by selling miners sturdy pants made of denim

Gold Rush Society Most of the people who lived in the mining towns were men who spent their hours drinking, gambling, and fighting Since most mining towns had no police or prisons, concerned citizens formed vigilante committees to protect themselves. The vigilantes took the law into their own hands.

Economic and Political Progress CA experienced rapid growth. From its population increased from about 20,0000 to over 220,000 President Zachary Taylor urged the people to apply for statehood. They did so in 1850, but the Southern states objected because the constitution of CA banned slavery. In addition, a new state would upset the balance of free and slave states.

A Religious Refuge in Utah The First Mormons –Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830 in NY. Members were known as Mormons –Disapproval by neighboring people forced the Mormons to move from NY to OH, then to MO, and the to IL –A mob in IL killed Smith. Brigham Young took over as the leader and moved the Mormons to present-day UT.

A Haven in the Desert Beginning in 1846, about 12,000 Mormons migrated to the Great Salt Lake area. The set up communities in an area they called Deseret In 1850 President Millard Fillmore made Brigham Young the governor of the Utah Territory