In 1848, gold was discovered in California, attracting over 300,000 people from all over the world, some who struck it rich and many more who didn't. Hear the stories about the gold-seeking "forty-niners!" With black-and white illustrations and sixteen pages of photos, a nugget from history is brought to life!
On the morning of January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold in California. The news spread across the continent, launching hundreds of ships and hitching a thousand prairie schooners filled with adventurers in search of heretofore unimagined wealth. Those who joined the procession—soon called 49ers—included the wealthy and the poor from every state and territory, including slaves brought by their owners. In numbers, they represented the greatest mass migration in the history of the Republic. In this first comprehensive history of the Gold Rush, Malcolm J. Rohrbough demonstrates that in its far-reaching repercussions, it was the most significant event in the first half of the nineteenth century. No other series of events between the Louisiana Purchase and the Civil War produced such a vast movement of people; called into question basic values of marriage, family, work, wealth, and leisure; led to so many varied consequences; and left such vivid memories among its participants. Through extensive research in diaries, letters, and other archival sources, Rohrbough uncovers the personal dilemmas and confusion that the Gold Rush brought. His engaging narrative depicts the complexity of human motivation behind the event and reveals the effects of the Gold Rush as it spread outward in ever-widening circles to touch the lives of families and communities everywhere in the United States. For those who joined the 49ers, the decision to go raised questions about marital obligations and family responsibilities. For those men—and women, whose experiences of being left behind have been largely ignored until now—who remained on the farm or in the shop, the absences of tens of thousands of men over a period of years had a profound impact, reshaping a thousand communities across the breadth of the American nation.
The author uses lighthearted illustrations and excerpts from letters, journals, and newspaper articles to relate the story of the California Gold Rush of 1848. Full color.
Did you know that part of San Francisco was built on top of ships from all over the world that were abandoned during the Gold Rush? Even the most reluctant readers will love discovering history through these strange, awesome, and unbelievable tidbits about the hundreds of thousands of people who left their lives behind and trekked out to California to strike it rich. Incredible early photographs and vivid illustrations bring each factoid into sharp focus, while captions add extra information to each page.
The California gold rush of 1849 was a defining era in U.S. History. The discovery of gold led to a mass migration to the country's west coast not only from the East Coast, but from all over the world. Travellers thronged to the area in the hope of becoming rich, but the truth is, few did. Many more made a living selling goods and services to the gold miners. This volume is packed with fascinating primary sources that bring the gold rush to life for readers. Readers will view and analyze numerous primary sources, including paintings, handwritten documents, political cartoons, photographs, and more. Sidebars encourage students to ask and answer questions about primary sources surrounding the gold rush.
Discusses the California Gold Rush in American history, including the first discovery of gold, the 49ers, and how the gold rush changed the landscape of America.
Describes adventures and disasters in the lives of people who rushed to the gold mines of California in 1848 and explains how this event sparked the state's development.
In this authoritative guide, readers will examine the many aspects of the California Gold Rush and the event's larger role in westward expansion. Studying the forty-niners, the Native Americans of California, gold extraction techniques, and transportation west, readers will gain insight into how the gold rush changed the region and the many developments it led to. Accessible language clarifies advanced concepts, and engrossing sidebars feature additional information. Stunning photographs add dimension to the text, and primary sources are integrated, offering an up-close examination. This book's comprehensive material is a terrific resource to supplement curricular studies.
The discovery of a nugget in California in 1848 set off the first gold rush in history. In 1849 alone, the population increased 500 percent as 80,000 men rushed to claim its riches; three years later, nearly 250,000 people lived there. By 1865, miners had dug and panned $750 million in gold from the hills and streambeds of California. In other countries, mines that produced precious metals were the property of kings and princes. But in California, the gold, like everything else on the frontier, belonged to those who took it. In The Gold Rush, historian Ralph K. Andrist details the culture and characters that created a pivotal moment in American history.
The discovery of gold in California enticed many eastern Americans to leave their homes, their businesses, and even their families and rush westward with the dream of striking it rich. Their tales of hard traveling, exhausting work, and busted dreams illustrate the adventurous spirit and nai ve idealism that has become part of America's romantic past.