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Routes to the Gold Fields

Routes to the Gold Fields. On January 28, 1848 James Marshall discovers gold at John Sutter’s mill in Coloma. Gold! Gold from the American River!. May 1848—When news of the gold discovery and samples of gold reached San Francisco and other towns in California, people headed to the mountains.

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Routes to the Gold Fields

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  1. Routes to the Gold Fields

  2. On January 28, 1848 James Marshall discovers gold at John Sutter’s mill in Coloma.

  3. Gold! Gold from the American River! • May 1848—When news of the gold discovery and samples of gold reached San Francisco and other towns in California, people headed to the mountains. Challenge #1: If gold was discovered in January, why did it take so long for news to spread?

  4. From where did they come? Oregon Territory British Isles Eastern United States Germany China France Mexico Australia Chile • Challenge #2: What countries did the Argonauts come from? Peru

  5. How shall we travel? • Three main routes: • Cape Horn • Isthmus of Panama • Overland

  6. Sea Route—Cape Horn The ship then sailed north along the Pacific coast to San Francisco Bay where the passengers would disembark. around the southern tip of South America (Cape Horn) and then into the Pacific Ocean. • Argonauts traveled by ship south along the Atlantic coast of the United States,

  7. Sea Route—Cape Horn • Challenge #3: What dangers did the Argonauts face traveling by sea along the Cape Horn route to California? • Took 5 to 8 months • Journey of 18,000 nautical miles

  8. Dangers—Overcrowding • Challenge #4: Why would over-selling passage on a ship be dangerous?

  9. Dangers—Disease • Cholera • Scurvy

  10. Dangers—Cape Horn Courtesy of National Maritime Museum, London

  11. By Land and Sea—Isthmus of Panama Chagres • Argonauts that wanted a faster route would sail to the Isthmus of Panama and the port town of Chagres. From there they traveled by small boat up the Chagres River and then rode mules through the jungle to the other side of the isthmus. Once they arrived in Panama City Argonauts had to wait for a ship to sail them up the Pacific coast to San Francisco Bay.

  12. By Land and Sea—Isthmus of Panama • By 1850 the journey took only 6 to 8 weeks. Challenge #5: What dangers did the Argonauts face during their journey across the Isthmus of Panama?

  13. Dangers—Disease • Yellow Fever • Malaria

  14. California Trail Mormon Trail Oregon Trail Land Route Fort Hall Council Bluffs Fort Bridger St. Joseph Sacramento Salt Lake City Independence

  15. Oxen, Mules or Horses? • Challenge #6: What dangers did the Argonauts meet along the overland trail?

  16. Dangers—mountains and rivers

  17. Dangers—Accidents

  18. Dangers—Disease Asiatic Cholera: Caused by infected drinking water

  19. The Gold Fields! • Challenge #7: What challenges did this sudden increase in population bring to California’s economy and government?

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