Contains information on the historical aspects of the Australian gold rushes - first discoveries to gold mining in Australia today; life on the goldfields, including family life, social life, law and order, and the everyday life of the digger; the impact on Australia of the gold rushes. For middle-upper primary.
The lustre which drew mankind to gold in ancient times has made it the most prized commodity throughout time. Wars have been fought over it, and civilisations have been subjugated and enslaved in the rush to control its sources. In places like Australia, though, the mere possibility of its existence was feared while the country remained a penal colony. Once found though the rush could not be contained. Gold financed great building, paved roads and made Melbourne the most exciting and expensive city in the world for a time. It was stockpiled in banks, and the currencies of nations were valued against it until the twentieth century wars and the Great Depression brought an end to its use as a standard. Its importance as a measure of individual prestige has continues unabated driving prospectors and miners to search for new deposits and to find better means of extracting it from old mines. This book is part of Exisle Publishing's Little Red Books series. Every title in the Little Red Books series provides an overview of key events, people or places in Australian history. They cover the essentials, bringing the reader up to speed on the most important, fascinating or intriguing facts. Appealing to everyone from students to pensioners who've always wanted to "know a bit about that", they're an essential part of every Australian bookshelf.
"The brave independence of the 'roaring days', the camaraderie of the gold fields, jolly diggers on a spree - these are the images that have come down to us of the gold era of the 1850s in Australia and California. But these images were largely shaped decades later, by writers such as Henry Lawson and Bret Harte - they speak of later nostalgia rather than the experience of the time." "In this study of the contemporary response to the discoveries of gold in Victoria and California, David Goodman argues that people at the time were apprehensive about gold rushing, and the kind of society it seemed to prefigure. In the chaos of the gold rushes, individual self-interest seemed to be all that could motivate people to any exertion. And it was only the economic rationalists of the day - those who believed in political economy and its promise, that out of the confusion of individual self-interest would come some sort of social order - who could wholeheartedly endorse the gold rushes as events." "This is a history of the ways people talked about gold. As the first full-length cultural history of the gold rushes on two continents, it examines the meanings of gold at the time, and the narratives which were told about social disruption. It locates the deeper underlying themes in the response to gold. It also looks at the ways in which the dominant later memories of gold were shaped. And it is about national differences, about the construction of distinctive national cultures out of materials common to the British world. This book should be read not only by Australian and American historians but by anyone with an interest in the cultural history of modernity."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
In 1849, the greatest gold rush in history began as thousands of wouldbe- miners, gamblers, murderers and prostitutes made their way to California to seek their fortunes. In less than two years, more than 100,00 people arrived from all over the world to get in on the action. When the first gold nugget was found in the "Mother Lode," no one understood the importance of the discovery. Soon however, hundreds of ships littered San Francisco's harbor, abandoned by crew members rushing to the goldfields. The first gold was actually discovered in 1847 when California was still part of Mexico. The United States had declared war against Mexico in 1846. In 1848, Mexico ceded California and other western lands to the United States before news of the gold strike was known. The land belonged to the U.S. Government. It was not "open"-not free for the taking - so all the mining done was extralegal (outside of the law). Once word got out that there was gold to be had for the taking, short of sending in the Army to kill them, there was no way to stop the miners. They seized land and established Mining Districts that weren't authorized by Federal law, and then set about governing themselves. San Francisco and Sacramento became lawless, criminal-dominated cities where no man was safe who could not defend himself. In The Gold Rush, 1847-1849, the seventh book in the series, Caleb and his ladies fight to protect their property from a ruthless New York Syndicate that will stop at nothing, even murder, to take over their operations.
In this lively narrative with its numerous illustrations and photographs, Steven C. Levi captures the color and the riches of the Alaska Gold Rush and tells the stories of the larger-than-life characters who lived the adventure. The Alaska Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century was the last great fit of gold fever in North America. Men and women—including African Americans, Portuguese, Japanese, Italians, and Chinese—all rushed north. Many of these adventurers died in the harsh Arctic winters or drowned in the leaky, rotting ships that ferried them to the gold fields. The Gold Rush created the geography of modern Alaska and brought its rich natural resources and large Native population under the eye of the American government. This book, says Levi, is not intended to be an overview of the Alaska Gold Rush. Rather, it is meant to provide a myriad of glimpses into the lives of people and events of the age. This is a book of popular history. If you find it interesting, don't thank the writer; credit the 100,000 men and women who rushed north in search of the precious yellow metal a century ago. Far to the north of the 48 contiguous states, writes Steven C. Levi, is a land shrouded with the miasma of adventure. It is a land of glaciers the size of some states and fish the size of some cities. Its history is steeped in intrigue, scoundrels abound, and things that could never occur anywhere else on earth happened here. It has everything one has come to expect of an exotic port-and more. This land is Alaska. The Alaska Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century was the last great fit of gold fever in North America. It promised untold riches to anyone who could get there, and created a last-ditch, wild-west culture of greed and sin—a perfect haven for dreamers and scoundrels alike. Men and women—including African Americans, Portuguese, Japanese, Italians, and Chinese—all rushed north. Many of these adventurers died in the harsh Arctic winters or drowned in the leaky, rotting ships that ferried the dreamers to the gold fields. The Gold Rush created the geography of modern Alaska. Strikes in Nome (where the gold lay on the beach and anyone could reach down and pick it up), Juneau, Fairbanks, Valdez, and Kotzebue helped put Alaska on the map and brought its rich natural resources and large Native population under the eye of the American government. In this lively narrative with its numerous illustrations and photographs, Steven C. Levi captures the color and the riches of the Alaska Gold Rush and tells the stories of the larger-than-life characters who lived the adventure. E. T. Barnette, for example, founded his own city (Fairbanks), established his own bank (Washington Alaska), and then absconded with every dime in the vault. George Hinton Henry, the father of Alaska journalism, was run out of every town where he tried to establish a newspaper. This book, says Levi, is not intended to be an overview of the Alaska Gold Rush. Rather, it is meant to provide a myriad of glimpses into the lives of people and events of the age. This is a book of popular history. If you find it interesting, don't thank the writer; credit the 100,000 men and women who rushed north in search of the precious yellow metal a century ago.
Twenty-five years after independence, Papua New Guinea is beset by social, economic, and political problems: poverty and inequality, a young and expanding population, a stagnant economy, corruption, and rising crime. The state has not only failed to contain these problems but has become progressively implicated in their persistence. Escalating levels of violence and lawlessness are seen by many as the most serious challenge facing the young country. This book examines these problems of order in light of Papua New Guinea’s remarkable social diversity and the impact of rapid and pervasive processes of change. Three original and strategic case studies involving urban gangs, mining security, and election violence form the core of the work. Each case study looks at particular forms of conflict, and the responses these engender, across different socioeconomic contexts and geographic locations. Empirical data are analyzed through a common framework that employs material, cultural and institutional perspectives, allowing readers to view the three cases through different theoretical prisms, identify linkages between them, and, in the process, build a larger picture of the post-colonial social order. Law and Order in a Weak State charts not only the problems of crime and lawlessness in Papua New Guinea but also the possibilities for constructive, pragmatic solutions. It will be of great interest to scholars, aid and policy officials, and others concerned with understanding the social complexities and challenges of contemporary Papua New Guinea.
Step into the vibrant world of Marji Hill, an Australian artist whose canvases are windows into the soul of Australia - the land Down Under. In this captivating art book Marji showcases a diverse collection of paintings that span from the artist's formative teenage years to her most recent creations. Her artworks are a powerful mirror reflecting the intricate tapestry of Australian society. • the nuanced dynamics of black/white relations • the complexities of identity and culture • Australia’s hidden past as layers of history intertwine with the present, inviting contemplation and reflection. • the allure of gold discoveries echoing the dreams and aspirations of generations past • the essence of the land and sea which capture the breathtaking beauty of Australia’s landscapes Amidst the weighty themes, find moments of joy and light-heartedness as Marji infuses her paintings with a sense of whimsy and playfulness. Each stroke of the brush tells a story so you can immerse yourself in the rich narrative woven throughout these pages. Journey into Marji’s world of art and discover the essence of Australia, painted with passion, depth, and unyielding reverence for the land and its people.
"This book is an unusual, bold and frank autobiography of A.P. Durai, a seasoned officer of the Indian Police Service, well known for his integrity, professionalism and courage to stand up to the consequent challenges and persecution. His independent and value - oriented approach to his work brought, in its wake, opposition from within the department and, inevitably, the politicians. How he mastered these challenges with faith and courage, and utilized them as opportunities to develop himself into an effective, creative and innovative police leader is the theme of the book. Midway through his career, he discovered that bringing about ‘law and order’ within oneself was a prerequisite for one’s role as a police officer. His pursuit of this inner search and training under a Spiritual Master had a significant impact on his professional values and performance. Sprinkled with tales of his struggles with politicians and jealous colleagues, and of frequent transfers and humiliations, this autobiography announces the triumph of the human spirit imbued with the ideals of public service and professionalism. The book, therefore, would be a source of inspiration to all public servants involved in the governance of the country. One cannot but miss the note of caution to scheming politicians, ambitious police officers and bureaucrats that the pay back awaits them in the shape of Karmic consequences. As Durai raced through the positions he held in Karnataka police, in Indian Oil Corporation, as Director of the SVP National Police Academy, Hyderabad, and as Director General of Police of Karnataka and finally, as Director General, Railway Protection Force, New Delhi, he left behind him many reforms and a new spirit of optimism and public service in the forces that he commanded. Shri Durai’s strong commitment to values in public life, and his willingness to cheerfully pay the price for them, send out the ringing message that the honest man has nothing to lose, but everything to gain. "