Settlement of California and Utah in the Gold Rush Era

1. Section 4-Polling Question • A • B If you were living in the gold rush era, would you have traveled across the country for the chance at great riches? A.Yes B.No

2. Chapter 13 Manifest Destiny (1818-1853) Section 4 California and Utah

3. Essential Question What factors affected the settlement of California and Utah in the West?

4. Gold! • 1848- John Sutter discovered gold in California • People from all over the world arrived in 1849 and were called… • Forty-niners • Farmers, lawyers, doctors, priests and others were “digging gold” • Americans made up 80% of the 49ers • Others came from Mexico, South America, Europe, and Australia • About 300 men arrived from China, the first large group of Asian immigrants to settle America

5. The Californios • The Californios are now citizens of the US (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo) • The treaty also gave them rights to their lands • The Land Law of 1851, however, established a group of reviewers who examined the Californios’ land rights • When a new settler came in the Californio had to prove they owned the land • Some were able to prove land ownership, others were not and lost their land

6. Growth of Cities • As people rushed to a new area looking for gold, they built new communities, called boomtowns, almost overnight • At one site there were 2 houses and a year later there was… • A town of 1000 people with “hotels, stores, groceries, bakeries, and … gambling houses” • Cities grew rapidly • San Francisco grew from a tiny village to a city of about 20,000 people

7. The 49ers • Most 49ers had no experience in mining • When they heard gold was discovered at site, they rushed to it • They spent hours looking for gold dust and nuggets • The California Gold Rush more than doubled the world’s supply of gold • But few 49ers achieved lasting wealth • Most found little or no gold • Many of those who did find gold lost it gambling or on wild spending

8. Those That Made Money • Were the boomtown merchants • They could charge whatever they want for food and other essential items • There were no other nearby stores that sold these products • An immigrant named Levi Strauss sold the miners sturdy pants made of denim • His “Levi’s” made him rich

9. Gold Rush Society • Mining communities contained men of all backgrounds, but few women • Many men spent their free time drinking, gambling, and fighting • The mining towns had no police or prisons • Citizens formed vigilante groups to protect themselves • The vigilante groups took the law into their own hands • They acted as police, judge, jury, and sometimes executioner

10. Economic and Political Progress • Many people who came to California looking for gold stayed • They farmed or ran a business • Rapid growth brought a need for better government • 1850- California applied for statehood and wrote a constitution • The state decided on slavery… and they chose- • No slavery • Southern states opposed California’s admission • California would not enter the Union until a year later when a compromise was reached

11. Section 4 • A • B • C • D Why did many Americans in the 1840s want to make California a state? A.to convert the Native Americans to Christianity B.to abolish the Spanish missions C.to build ports on the Pacific coast D.to sell Native Americans into slavery

12. The First Mormons • Mormons- members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints • The Mormons came about during the religious awakenings of the 1830s and 1840s • The founder of the Mormon Church was Joseph Smith (Living in New York) • Smith claimed he received visions to build a new Christian church and began preaching in 1830 • Smith published the Book of Mormon which told of the coming of God and the need to build a kingdom on Earth to receive him

13. The Mormons • Smith wanted to build a model society • He believed property should be held in common • Also supported polygamy (More than one wife) • Smith formed a society in New York, but people disagreed with his ideas and forced the Mormons to leave • The Mormons moved to Illinois, but persecution continued

14. The Mormons Leave Illinois • 1844- A mob of residents killed Joseph Smith • Brigham Young took over as head of the Mormons • Young decided the Mormons should move again to escape persecution and have religious freedom • The Mormons moved west to the Great Salt Lake in present day Utah

15. A Haven in the Desert • 1846- About 12,000 Mormons moved to Utah • This was the largest single migration in American history • Traveled on what became known as the Mormon Trail (Became an valuable route to the western US) • 1847- The Mormon’s reached the Great Salt Lake • The land was dry and wild • The Mormons call the land Deseret and set up farming communities

16. Mormons’ In Deseret • At first life was difficult for the settlers • Hard work and determination helped Deseret succeed • They built their towns carefully and irrigation canals to water their farms (Salt Lake City) • Property was taxed, and use of water, timber, and other natural resources were regulated • Industries were developed so they could be self-sufficient • Mormon merchants sold supplies to the 49ers who passed through Utah on their way to California

17. Section 4 • A • B • C • D Mormons used irrigation to water crops at A.Deseret B.New York City C.San Francisco D.Boomtowns in California

18. Utah Territory • 1850- Congress established the Utah Territory • President Millard Fillmore made Brigham Young the governor or Utah • By 1860- There were many Mormon communities throughout Utah • Utah was NOT easily incorporated into the US • The Mormons often had conflicts with federal officials • In 1857 and 1858- War almost broke out between the Mormons and the US Army • Utah did not become a state until 1896

19. Essential Question What factors affected the settlement of California and Utah in the West? -Rapid growth in population and in economic activity to serve the growing population -Growth led to need for more effective government, resulting in the writing of a state constitution and statehood in 1850

20. California's request for statehood caused a crisis in Congress because of • gold. • Mormons. • vigilantes. • slavery.

21. Who founded the Mormon church? • Levi Strauss • Brigham Young • John Sutter • Joseph Smith

22. Who became head of the Mormon church after the founder died in 1844? • Brigham Young • Joseph Smith • Levi Strauss • John Sutter

23. Which of the following made the largest single migration in history? • forty-niners • Mormons • Gold Rush miners • Gold Rush merchants