Gadsden Purchase/ Gold Rush

Mexico forced to give up northern third of country with Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo United States needs land to complete a transcontinental railroad in the South James Gadsden (Ambassador to Mexico) is sent to negotiate with Mexico Mexico wants United States to help with stopping Native American attacks Gadsden Purchase

Gadsden and Santa Anna agree on purchase of 45,000 sq miles for $15 million and US will assist with Native Americans Congress approves 29,000 sq miles for $10 million with no mention of Native Americans Gadsden Purchase

Forty-Niners Gold is found at Sutter’s Mill in California in 1848 People traveled from all around the world hunting for gold Most 49ers struggled to make any money Vigilante law takes over to try and cut down on stealing, murder, and prejudice (handout) Forty-Niners

California’s population went from 800 in 1848 to 100,000 in 1849 and 380,000 by 1860 $2 billion total of gold was extracted from the ground during the gold rush California Gold Rush

After most of the gold at the surface was found (placer mining), new methods of mining were created to find more Placer Mining: finding gold along rivers and streams Hydraulic Mining: Jets of water to erode the gravel hills, damaged environment Forty-niners became wage workers for mining companies Mining Methods