CALIFORNIA’S

ContentsDiscovery Gold Fever The Journey The Journey Gold Country Despair Despair new California new Californiaquiz

Discovery In late 1847, James Marshall and about 20 men were sent to the river by a local entrepenuer to build a sawmill--to provide lumber for Sutter's growing ranch. The sawmill was nearly complete when a glint of something caught Marshall's eye. It was January 24th, 1848

"I reached my hand down and picked it up; it made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold. The piece was about half the size and shape of a pea. Then I saw another." "I reached my hand down and picked it up; it made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold. The piece was about half the size and shape of a pea. Then I saw another." After making the greatest find in the history of the West, Marshall and the other workers went back to work. But they kept stumbling upon more gold. So they made a pact to keep the discovery a secret… But it wasn't long before stories of gold filtered into the surrounding countryside.

Gold Fever! By 1849 the gold rush was on. People from all over the United States and the World were rushing to California. People caught "Gold Fever" in the hope of striking it rich. Many gold seekers arrived expecting to find rivers overflowing with gold. Unfortunately, most found riverbanks crowded with miners.

The journey… Many people came to California by covered wagon. This was a long, difficult journey. Travelers needed to travel across difficult land. They needed to cross the desert and climb the mountains with their wagons, mules and oxen. Many people died during the trip from illness, starvation and drowning. Travellers needed to t

Gold country! In the early days gold was easy to find. All you needed was a knife, pick, shovel and a pan. Gold nuggets could be pried from rocks. Dirt shoveled from creeks and rivers could be swirled in a pan to find gold. Gold miners were called 49ers!

Gold country! Once the easy gold was found, more inventive ways were needed to get gold! The Long Tom was an 8 to 20 foot rocker. Miners would shovel dirt into it, pour water over it, and rock it like a cradle. Lighter dirt and gravel was washed away, leaving heavier gold. The Long Tom was an 8 to 20 foot rocker. Miners would shovel dirt into it, pour water over it, and rock it like a cradle. Lighter dirt and gravel was washed away, leaving heavier gold.

Gold country! River Mining- The gold could be found in river beds or creeks in sediment worn away by water. Rivers would wash the gold from rocks and other deposits and carry it downstream. They built dams to redirect the water so they could mine the river bottom

despair Life of a 49er As time went on the easy gold was all found, Although some made it rich, most of the others were lucky if they made enough to eat. Thousands of miners died on the journey or in the diggings. Many died from disease, or from accidents such as drowning in a river.

despair By mid 1849, the easy gold was gone--but the 49ers kept coming. Forty-niners who expected to make their fortune in a few days found themselves digging for month after month--year after year--with little to show for the effort. Frustration and depression was rampant!

hope Many gave up the dream and went home to the east. Others stayed on--just one more year they hoped. One more year and they'd strike it rich. And there were the occasional lucky strikes well into the 1850s--just enough good news to encourage the masses to continue digging. Most failed every day, but they kept on--year after year. Dejected, disappointed, many would never return home to loved ones back east--they would die in California, broken by a dream that never came true.

New California The California gold rush was not merely an American happening--it was a world event. Many mines, especially in the south, were worked by foreigners who came solely for the gold. Chinese, Chileans, Mexicans, Irish, Germans, French, and Turks all sought their fortune in California.

New California Although there were ethnic skirmishes, most of these new residents thrived. If you had something to contribute, California would take you in. Almost instantly, the state had assembled the most diverse ethnic culture in the world.

New California The gold in the California hills eventually ran out—but, the impact of the gold rush era lives on. California was shaped by the adventurers who stayed--to form the idea that is California today: a place that accepts and nurtures risk takers.

Quiz 1. When was gold in California first discovered? Who discovered gold? Jimmy DeanJames Marshall Jimmy DeanJames Marshall 3. What were gold miners called? DiggersDiggers 49ers86ers 49ers86ers Diggers49ers86ers 4. Miners always found gold. TrueFalse TrueFalse 5. Many people stayed and made California their home after the Gold Rush. TrueFalse TrueFalse

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