THE YEAR IS 1849…

1849  Gold has just been discover in California!  People all across the world got gold fever…  Population of San Francisco 1,000 in 1848 to 35,000 in 1850

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

 Since life is not easy for us, we have decided to join the GOLD rush!  The only problem is many people from all over the world had the same idea. 

 As more people appear in California, the odds of finding gold shrink as well. By 1850, most of the gold that is found easily is gone

 The disappearance of gold left many individuals broke with no where to go. Sine it is 1849, anyone who is not a white male, which included 37% of all miners, was forced off their claim and forced to work claims that have already been mined.  If you have a #2, #8, Ace or Jack you were not a white male, so you didn’t find any gold.

 The trip west was very difficult. There is no direct route to California, and there are dangers all along the way, including weather, animals, and hostile Indians. 30% of all 49er’s died trying to make it to California.  If you have #7, #10, or Q you didn’t survive the long trip west, sorry you did not find gold.

 Some people realized that they didn’t have any chance of getting rich by finding gold. They decided to open shops and sell mining supplies to miners although you made a living, you didn’t get rich.  If you have #3 or #9 please sit down you did not find gold.

 Other miners give up hope or sink every last penny into mining, with no luck.  If you have #4, #6 or a King you went broke and went home.

 Very few miners actually had success finding gold, but it pays to be one of the lucky ones!  If you have #5, congratulations, you survived the harsh trip west and have found GOLD!

 What does this activity teach us about the California gold rush?  If life was so difficult in California at this time why did so many people risk their lives moving to California?