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The past of California has been full of events which have shaped the state into what it is today. From its founding in 1849 to its modern-day reputation of being an epicenter of culture and technology, California’s history has been a fascinating one.
Heading west
Gold Rush California: A Life of Gold Rush California
California became a territory of the United States after Mexico was defeated in 1847. John Marshall’s discovery of gold brought thousands to San Francisco the following year. These prospectors dug up riverbeds in mountainsides. Eventually, they used dynamite. The migration of people led to many changes on the land, such as inflation and bank establishments.
California History In the 1600s, California was a Spanish possession. Mexico won independence from Spain and lost it in 1821. It was not Mexican for long. James Polk, the U.S. president, wanted to expand the United States in 1846. This was shortly after General Sam Houston’s army won the Texas Independence War. His offer of $40 million was rejected. California was also being eyed by other European nations for expansion. James Charles Fremont launched the Bear Flag Rebellion to declare Californian independence.
The Mexican government declared war on the United States after refusing to let the U.S. take their land. Zachary Taylor was followed by Winfield Scott in leading the American forces against their Mexican enemies. On September 17th, 1847 after many battles, Mexican general Antonio Lopez Santa Anna ceded the disputed Mexican regions to the U.S. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo concluded the Mexican War, forcing Mexico to cede the territories of New Mexico or California to the United States. California became part of the US in 1850.Gold. On January 24, 1848 – just after the end of World War I – James Marshall discovered California’s gold. He was inspecting a sawmill on the American River near Coloma today. John Augustus Sutter owned land fifty miles away. Sutter was forced to leave Europe by bankruptcy. In 1839 he came to California with a Mexican land grant of 48,000 acre. He was hoping to recover his fortune through farming.
Sutter kept his discovery secret until Marshall informed his partner. He was aware that he had no claim to the land on which the gold had been found. Also, he feared prospectors would ruin his land. Samuel Brennan, a Mormon shopkeeper who was opportunistic, learned of the discovery. Brennan took advantage of the excitement surrounding the discovery of gold to boost his fortunes by increasing the prices for common goods. Brennan purchased all the supplies that he could for his stores in April, 1848. He ran in the streets, screaming ‘Gold’ through San Francisco. Gold! From the American River!” He wrote about the topic in his newspaper, “California Star.”
In 1848, the only people who responded were those in California. They used baskets to sort through the sand, gravel, and riverbed. Sutter’s farmhands abandoned their jobs and his crops to go in search of gold.
The news took a while to reach the east coast of the United States. The news had to be confirmed by those living in the east. The U.S. Government provided this proof. Richard Mason, California’s military governor, came to inspect Marshall’s first gold discovery site. William T. Sherman, his lieutenant, accompanied him. They published an official report in which they confirmed that the precious metal had been found. In his State of the Union speech on December 8, 1848, President Polk mentioned California’s precious metal.
Westward expansion Now that the entire nation was convinced of the validity of gold rushes, many men left their jobs to search for their fortune. Many people from the East Coast faced a long journey. A lack of direct waterways or roads slowed some people who chose to travel over land. The Oregon-California Trail was the route they took. Prospectors followed this rough route for four months across the entire country. Some sailed from the East Coast to California by sailing around the tip South America. This was also a four-month journey, which was very dangerous. Few people chose to travel by sea, hoping to save time. They crossed the Panamanian landbridge to avoid the dangerous rainforest.
California also attracted many foreigners looking for their fortune. The cries for gold from foreign ports brought people from Australia to San Francisco, including those in China, Chile and Turkey. The population of the small town grew from 850 overnight to 80,000. They were all ’49ers – foreigners or Americans – and they had one common thing – the desire to get rich.
American River is where gold seekers started their quest. Metal pans were developed from baskets used to sort through gravel in the riverbed. By 1852 the gold on the surface had been found in large quantities. The prospectors were forced to alter their mining techniques. The prospectors had to change their methods. Water was directed to the site of operation using small canals known as fumes. Hydraulic mining is a rarer technique. With the help of high pressured water, entire mountain sides were removed. The soil would then be sifted. The dirt would sometimes get stuck on rivers and flood nearby homes and cities. The gold found with these methods was exhausted, so prospectors needed to switch to a method that involved explosives.
Gold Rush California The city treated foreigners with contempt, who were once welcomed. Native Americans, which did not fall victim to the gold rush, were first victims. Before the Gold Rush, approximately 300,000. Native Americans lived in California. Gold discovery led to an influx in people who did not respect the Indian tribal way of life. The miners invaded Indian land, forcing natives to flee their homes. There are estimates that around 250,000 natives had to be displaced by gold-seeking settlers. Chinese immigrants faced a lot more harassment. The Chinese, like most other foreigners, became the target of thieves and robbers. The Chinese would melt down their gold and turn it into kitchen utensils and woks to hide their treasures. The Chinese darkened the objects with black soot to make them look like regular kitchen utensils.
Californians who experienced the Gold Rush saw a variety of economic changes. The price of goods increased as more people flooded into California. Money was easier to come by than food. Prices increased on everything from hardware to eggs. Steamboat operators can make up to $40,000 per month.
ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ù ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ê ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô ô à ô ô ô ô ô ô The U.S. mint did not open in California for many years. Also, they helped large businesses and merchants do business. In addition, banks provided safe places for wealthy miners. Wells Fargo, one of those banks that were established during the Gold Rush era, was founded in 1849. Henry Wells created the bank with William Fargo.
The majority of miners did not fare well. After abandoning everything they owned at home, they found that California was more expensive than the money they were able to earn. Some were barely able to afford food. Brennan, and other suppliers such as him, made the most money from the goldrush. Levi Strauss was another man who made money by serving the mining community. A traveling merchant, he sold trousers made out of sailcloth and copper-plated rivets. Denim blue denim would become the name of these garments.
Other states like Nevada, and Dakotas were also discovered to have gold. Prospectors turned their attention elsewhere. California’s Gold Rush left a mark. Gold mines had been replaced by farms on the west coast.
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