1. Rush for California Gold

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Territorial Growth to 1853