What was the Pikes Peak Gold Rush 1859?

1. What was the Pikes Peak Gold Rush 1859? Enquiry 2- how and why were people reimagining the American West, 1839-1860? Starter- recap from last lesson. Read your hand-out (page 61) and highlight key points before gluing in your book. Create a summary of facts on the challenges and effects of the Rush on California Extension- in your own words explain whether the Gold Rush was a good thing for America or not?

2. Some Will analyse why it is referred to as ‘Pikes Peak or Bust’ Gold Most Will explain the impacts it had Silver All Will know what the Pikes Peak Gold Rush was Bronze TARGET SETTING Learning Journey

3. Keywords/concepts- summarise them • Pikes Peak 1859- The Pikes Peak gold rush in the Colorado Rockies 1859 sent everyone into a frenzy. All anyone could talk about was gold and the riches it would bring. During the winter, people planned their trip west and bought supplies, wagons, mules, mining equipment, anything they could think of to sustain them when they arrived at their destination. When spring finally arrived, hundreds of wagons and families headed west in a race to the gold. • Pikes Peak or Bust- The Colorado Gold Rush was the boom in the prospecting and mining of gold in present-day Colorado in the United States that began in 1859 (when the land was still in the Kansas Territory) and lasted throughout the early 1860s. It is still considered to be the largest gold rush in American history. The gold rush, which followed approximately a decade after the California Gold Rush, was accompanied by a dramatic influx of emigrants into the region of the Rocky Mountains and exemplified by the phrase "Pikes Peak or Bust"

4. An overview- the impact of gold • Although Indians, explorers, and trappers had found gold in the Colorado Rockies before the 1859 Pike's Peak gold rush, Americans seemed unconcerned. Not until after the California gold rush in the late 1840s and the economic panic of 1857 did Americans begin seriously exploring the Rocky Mountains. • The prospectors found gold in 1858 but not in large enough quantities to stake claims. • In 1859, however, with confirmed news of large gold discoveries, the number of people rushing to the gold fields substantially increased. With a continual flow of people coming into the region, several of the earlier prospectors tried again to establish a town at the foot of Pike's Peak. Task 1-summarise the causes/effects of the Pikes Peak Rush

5. Task 2- explain how ‘Pikes Peak’ renewed tensions between white settlers and Plain Indians? • The discovery of Gold led to thousands of people to move to Colorado. New towns like Denver emerged which helped Colorado both socially and economically. • Colorado's population growth helped it become an official recognised US territory in 1861. • These settlers occupied land promised to the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes in the Fort Laramie treaty of 1851 (look at next lesson). Instead of upholding the treaty the government negotiated a new one in 1861 called the Fort Wise Treaty which restricted territory for both tribes and gave more land to white settlers. • This treaty increased tension between the Plain Indians and the settlers, which contributed to the Cheyenne Uprising and the Sand Creek massacre in 1864 (which we will learn in a few weeks)

6. Task 3- Read your hand-out; Impacts of the Gold Rush 1859 Highlight, using three different colours the 1) Causes of the Gold Rush 2) What happened during the Pikes Peak Rush 3) The consequences of the Gold Rush 1859 at Pikes Peak Then copy and complete the table (leave 7/8 lines between) Extension- how would the economic crisis of 1857 have impacted this Gold Rush? The Panic of 1857 was a sudden downturn in the economy of the United States that occurred in 1857. A general recession first emerged late in 1856, but the successive failure of banks and businesses that characterized the panic began in mid-1857

7. True or false? • The discovery of Gold meant thousands of settlers crossed the Great Plains to resettle and ‘make their fortune’ • It was called Pikes Peak or Bust because 90% of the estimated 100,000 who arrived had to go back with nothing • Colorado became officially recognised as US territory in 1863 TRUE TRUE FALSE

8. GCSE questions(use your overview and mark scheme) Q3. Explain the impacts the discovery of Gold had on California and Pikes Peak. Give examples to support your answers. • Brief intro • P1- explain one impact in detail- focus on what it was and the second order concept of consequence • P2- explain another impact in detail- focus on what it was and the second order concept of consequence • P3- final impact- focus on what it was and the second order concept of consequence • Conclusion- brief summary of impacts- positive/negative and why 10 marks (refer to your mark scheme)