1. Rush for California Gold

2. Rush for Gold
Mexican gov’t feared American immigration due to Texas
John Sutter
Persuaded the govt. to grant him 50,000 acres in the unsettled Sacramento Valley
In 1848, James Marshall, a carpenter, was building a sawmill near for Sutter & found gold in the American river
Thousands of gold seekers rushed to California to get rich
The forty-niners set out to make fortunes in gold

3. Routes to Fortune Sail 18,000 miles around South America
Suffer from storms, seasickness, & spoiled food
Sail to Panama, cross overland (risk catching deadly disease), & then sail to CA
Travel across North America
Brave rivers, mtns, and other hardships on trail

4. Northern California 100,000 people came in 1849
From U.S.A., Europe, Asia, Mexico, Canada, etc.
Most Americans were white
Some Native Americans, free blacks, Chinese immigrants & slaves came as well

5. Conflict & Change Native Americans & foreigners forced out
To reduce competition
Rush ended by 1852
About 250,000 people flooded into California

6. IMPACT OF THE GOLD RUSH The economy boomed Population numbers soared
Chinese miners left gold fields & started business
Californios were ruined financially & socially
In many cases, Americans seized their property
Native American population plummeted
From 150,000 to nearly 58,000 by 1870
California applied for statehood
1850 – admitted as a free state
Unbalanced the power in Congress

7. New America…“from sea to shining sea”

8. U.S. Expansion: 1846 - 1853 CAUSE EFFECT
Westward trails move thousands of people to new territories
Oregon Territory acquired by the United States
Austin and others colonize Texas
Texas Revolution
United States annexes Texas
U.S. – Mexican War
Mexican Cession acquired by the United States
United States expands from “sea to sea”
Thousands of gold seekers rush to California
California becomes a state
Transcontinental railroad route
needed
Gadsden Purchase

9. Territorial Growth to 1853