SS 3-4: How did women help California grow?

What roles do you think women played during the Gold Rush? Write what you think you know in your SS notebook. Be ready to share out. Women during the Gold Rush could not vote, hold a position in the government, or work at most jobs. Partner chat: “In what ways did women make a difference?” Partner chat: “Why did women come to CA during the Gold Rush?” *PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT OTHERS SAY. YOU MIGHT SEE THIS QUESTION AGAIN!

Women who traveled west to CA faced many challenges Very few women made the early journey to CA Men had to live away from families b/c of mining CA constitution let women keep their assets separate from husband’s *Assets: property or objects that could be used to repay debts Successful women Sold food or operated boarding houses near mining camps Successful b/c high food prices and housing shortage

Mary Tape: A Chinese Immigrant 1855 fought to have her children admitted to public school in SF SF created a school for Chinese only Chinese still not allowed in existing public schools 1920’s: Chinese children allowed to go to public high schools sooner in CA than the rest of the US Result of Mary Tape fighting for her children Happened too late for her children to benefit from it Occurred earlier than the Supreme Court’s decision in 1954 ruling against desegragation

Helen Hunt Jackson Visited CA and their missions Shocked at the conditions for the Native Americans She disagreed with how land was taken from them 1881 wrote a book about the unfair treatment of American Indians Sent copies to everyone in Congress

Biddy Mason: African American freedom fighter Born into slavery Robert Smith, her owner, moved to San Bernadino and took her with him African American businessman, Charles Owens, helped her petition for her freedom She gained her freedom in 1856 Told other African Americans to petition for freedom too She was one of the first African Americans to own land in Los Angeles She was generous to churches, charities, and individuals November 16, 1989 was declared Biddy Mason Day

Partner Activity With your partner, you will: read the biography card sheet Take notes on each woman’s accomplishments or what she worked to change (I will have a graphic organizer on the SmartBoard you can follow). You can add any notes that you have taken or remember from these slides After you take notes, you will make a poster about one of these women. You will include: Pictures showing the important events of her life Answer this question: “How does this woman’s story inspire other women today?”

Exit Ticket Name one woman that made a difference for the people of California. What did she do that made a difference?