1. THE YEAR IS 1849…

2. 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

3. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

4.  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. 

5.  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

6.  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.

7.  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.

8.  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.

9.  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.

10.  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!

11.  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?