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Pages 267-272

Pages 267-272. When and where was gold discovered in California? . John Sutter was a pioneer who settled in California in 1839 He was given land by the Mexican government (where Sacramento is today)

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Pages 267-272

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  1. Pages 267-272

  2. When and where was gold discovered in California? • John Sutter was a pioneer who settled in California in 1839 • He was given land by the Mexican government (where Sacramento is today) • Originally hired James Marshall to build a sawmill to turn the timber on his land into lumber and sell it • In January 1848 Marshall was working and saw sparkling yellow pebbles in the water, which turned out to be gold • Soon people swarmed John Sutter’s land and he couldn’t stop them • President Polk announced that gold had been found in California • In 1849 thousands of gold hunters packed their bags and headed for California

  3. How did the forty-niners get to California? • By ship around the tip of South America into the Pacific Ocean. Then sail north to California. This long, expensive trip took at least three months. • Take a ship from Mexico or Panama. From there hike overland to the Pacific coast. Then board another ship and sail to California. This route was also expensive, and a person could not take much baggage. • Go to California by land across western trails in covered wagons.

  4. Traveling to California • Many Died of • Weather Issues • Who would they encounter along the way? • How did they react? • The miners were very hard on any land they encountered • Muddied streams and ruined fishing • Chopped down trees for cabins, dams, and mine shafts • Salt Lake City became a popular stopping place • Mormons in this community were kind to travelers and provided one of the only stopping points along the trails

  5. How did the Gold Rush change California? • People came from all over the world for the gold • Direct sailings from European ports • Chinese • South America • Mexico • When gold was discovered 6,000 people lived in California, by the end of 1849 there were 65,000 people, in 1852 there were 250,000 people. • In 1852 $81 million was mined from California

  6. Life as a miner • Life was very rough, they spent every possible moment looking for gold • Cooked over open fires and ate on the run • Few hotels, and often not enough room • Dirty work and few washing facilities • Few actually found gold • Usually only the first ones there • If they did find some it was often stolen by thieves • Other Services Needed • Often the ones who gained the most did not get it from gold • Service providers • Farmers • Doctors • Lawyers • Bankers • Storekeepers • Sawmills • Saloons • Hotels

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