1. The Forty-Niners Anyone remember what happened at Sutter’s Mill?
CA Gold Rush
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Anyone remember what happened at Sutter’s Mill?
The Forty-Niners
James Marshall – discovered gold in the American River

2. Some came by sea around the tip of South America
CA Gold Rush
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In 1848 and 1849, thousands of people came from all over the world to strike it rich
Some came by sea around the tip of South America
Most came overland on the Oregon or Santa Fe Trail

4. CA Gold Rush
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Life in CA
Boomtowns sprang up near gold strikes

5. Boomtowns were filled mostly with men
CA Gold Rush
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Boomtowns were filled mostly with men
Rowdy places: drinking, gambling, fighting…
Most forty-niners had no experience in mining, and very few achieved lasting wealth
When all the gold was gone from a certain area what happened to the Boomtown?
Although most miners didn’t strike it rich, many merchants did
How did merchants make money from the miners?

6. CA Gold Rush
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Merchants sold mining supplies & equipment at extremely high prices – miners had nowhere else to go

7. How did Levi Strauss make money from the Gold Rush?

8. Existing cities, like San Francisco, grew rapidly
CA Gold Rush
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Existing cities, like San Francisco, grew rapidly
1848 population: approximately 1,000
1850 population: approximately 20,000!!!

9. Crime rate was very high – vigilantes acted as police, judge & jury
CA Gold Rush
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Crime rate was very high – vigilantes acted as police, judge & jury
Gold Rush had a lasting effect on California’s economy – many of the forty-niners became settlers
Why did most of the 49ers not return home?
Many did not have enough $ to return home
CA becomes a state in 1850

10. CA Gold Rush
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Land Rights
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – made Californios U.S. citizens, guaranteed them land rights
The Land Law of 1851 established a committee to review land claims
Many Californios lost their land because they couldn’t prove owenership
SUMMARY

11. A Religious Refuge in Utah 11-4
The Mormon Religion is Founded
Joseph Smith founded the Mormon church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Smith founded a community in NY, but neighbors forced them out
Why would a group of people be forced out?

12. A Religious Refuge in Utah 11-4
Mormons moved to OH, then MO, then IL were they finally settled
1844 – mob kills Joseph Smith
Brigham Young takes over the leadership of the church

13. A Religious Refuge in Utah 11-4
A Haven in the Desert
In Approximately 12,000 Mormons settle in Utah, near the Great Salt Lake to live a “godly life”
In 1846 who had control of Utah?

14. A Religious Refuge in Utah 11-4
1848 – U.S. acquired Salt Lake Area from Mexico
1850 – Congress establishes the Utah territory with Brigham Young as Governor
1896 – Utah becomes a state
Summary