1. Gadsden Purchase/ Gold Rush

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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