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Home , California Gold Rush, California Trail, Gold rush, Manifest destiny

SECTION 4 The Rush

What You Will Learn… If YOU were there... Main Ideas You are a low-paid bank clerk in New England in early 1849. Local 1. The discovery of gold newspaper headlines are shouting exciting news: “Gold Is Discovered brought settlers to California. 2. The had a lasting in California! Thousands Are on Their Way West.” You enjoy hav- impact on California’s popula- ing a steady job. However, some of your friends are planning to tion and economy. go West, and you are being infl uenced by their excitement. Your friends are even buying pickaxes and other equipment. The Big Idea They urge you to go West with them. The changed the future of . Would you go west to seek your fortune in California? Why? Key Terms and People , p. 327 , p. 327 BUILDING BACKGROUND At the end of the Mexican-American forty-niners, p. 327 War, the gained control of Mexican territories in the West, prospect, p. 328 including all of the present-day state of California. American settle- placer miners, p. 328 ments in California increased slowly at first. Then, the discovery of gold brought quick population growth and an economic boom.

Discovery of Gold Brings Settlers In the 1830s and , Americans who wanted to move to Califor- nia started up the . At the in present-day , the trail split. People bound for California took the southern HSS 8.8.3 Describe the role of pio- route, which became known as the . This path ran neer women and the new status that women achieved (e.g., Laura through the Sierra mountain range. American emigrants Ingalls Wilder, Annie Bidwell; slave and traders on the California Trail tried to cross these mountains women gaining freedom in the West; before the season’s fi rst snows. granting suffrage to women in 1869). Although many Americans traveled along the California Trail, few actually settled in California. American merchants were usually 8.8.5 Discuss Mexican settlements and their locations, cultural traditions, more interested in trading goods made in factories than in estab- attitudes toward slavery, land-grant lishing settlements. They traded for gold and silver , hides, system, and economics. and tallow (animal fat used to make soap and candles) from Mex- 8.9.4 Discuss the importance of the ico. California became a meeting ground for traders from slavery issue as raised by the annexa- and the United States. tion of Texas and California’s admis- sion to the union as a free state under Before the Mexican-American War, California’s population the . consisted mostly of Mexicans and Native Americans. When Mexico

326 CHAPTER 10 controlled California, Mexican offi cials did not want many Americans to settle there. Howev- In January 1848, Sutter sent a carpenter er, in 1839 they did give Swiss immigrant John named James Marshall to build a sawmill Sutter permission to start a colony. Sutter’s beside a nearby river. While working near Fort, located near the , Sutter’s Mill, Marshall glanced at the ground. soon became a popular rest stop for many “I reached my hand down and picked it up; American emigrants. These new arrivals it made my heart thump, for I was certain it praised Sutter’s hospitality and helpfulness. was gold.” By the mid-1840s some Anglo Californians Sutter and Marshall agreed to keep the were publishing newspaper advertisements discovery a secret. However, when they exam- and guidebooks encouraging other settlers ined the work site the next day, they met to move West. a Spanish-speaking Native American worker The Donner party was a group of west- holding a nugget and shouting, “Oro [gold]! ern travelers who went to California but were Oro! Oro!” stranded in the Mountains dur- Sutter’s workers soon quit to search ing winter. The party began its journey West for gold. Stories of the discovery rapidly in the spring of 1846. Trying to fi nd a short- spread across the country. President Polk cut, the group left the main trail and got lost. added to the national excitement by con- When the Donner party reached the Sierra fi rming the California gold strike in his fare- Nevada Mountains, they became trapped by well message to Congress in December 1848. heavy snows. They were stuck and had almost In 1849 about 80,000 gold-seekers came to no food. California, hoping to strike it rich. These A rescue party found the starving and gold-seeking migrants to California were freezing group in February 1847. Of the origi- called forty-niners. As one Iowa woman who nal 87 travelers, 42 had died.

“Gold Fever” “Gold fever” brought 80,000 people, like this miner, to California in 1849 alone. One Califor- nia newspaper captured the excitement: “The whole country, from to Los Ange- les, and from the sea shore to the base of the Sierra Nevadas, resounds with the cry of ‘gold, GOLD, GOLD!’ while the field is left half planted, the house half built, and everything neglected but the manufacture of shovels and pickaxes.” Below is a piece of jewelry made from nuggets found in California. Why was everything neglected except for “the manufacture of shovels and pickaxes”?

EXPANDING WEST 327 Staking a Claim

California State Library

left to fi nd gold recalled, “At that time the mines. The early forty-niners worked an area ‘gold fever’ was contagious, and few, old or that ran for 70 miles along rivers in northern young, escaped the malady [sickness].” Nearly California. 80 percent of the forty-niners were Americans, The fi rst person to arrive at a site would while the rest came from all over the world. “stake a claim.” Early miners frequently Most forty-niners braved long and often banded together to prospect for gold. The dangerous journeys to reach California. Many miners agreed that each would keep a share easterners, Europeans, and Asians arrived via of whatever gold was discovered. When one sea routes. Midwestern gold-seekers usually group abandoned a claim, more recent arriv- traveled west in wagon trains. Most forty- als often took it over, hoping for success. niners fi rst arrived in San Francisco. This port Sometimes, two or more groups arrived in town became a convenient trade center and an area at the same time. In the early gold- stopping point for travelers. As a result, its rush days, before courts were established, population grew from around 800 in March this competition often led to confl ict. Occa- 1848 to more than 25,000 by 1850. sionally, violent disputes arose over compet- ing claims. Staking a Claim Mining methods varied according to the Few of the forty-niners had any previous location. The most popular method, placer gold-mining experience. The work was dif- (PLA-suhr) mining, was done along rivers and fi cult and time-consuming. The forty-niners streams. Placer miners used pans or other would prospect, or search for goldgold, along devices to wash gold nuggets out of loose rock the banks of streams or in shallow surface and gravel. To reach gold deposits buried in

328 CHAPTER 10 Miners in the camps came from many cultures and backgrounds. Most miners were young, unmarried men in search of adven- ture. Only around 5 percent of gold-rush immigrants were women or children. The hardworking women generally made good by cooking meals, washing clothes, and operating boardinghouses. One such woman, Catherine Haun, recalled her fi rst home in California. “We were glad to settle down and go house- keeping in a shed that was built in a day of lum- Miners came to California from around the world ber purchased with the fi rst fee . . . For neighbors, to make their fortune. In the photo on the left, we had a real live saloon. I never have received Anglo and Chinese miners work together in more respectful attention than I did from these Auburn Ravine in 1852. Above, a woman joins neighbors. men to look for gold. Fewer women than men ” moved west to search for gold, but the ones that —Catherine Haun, quoted in Ordinary Americans, edited by Linda R. Monk did often found greater social and economic opportunity than they had in the east. Haun’s husband was a lawyer. He con- Why might people leave their homes and travel cluded that he could make more money long distances in search of gold? practicing law than he could panning for gold. He was one of many people who made a good living supplying miners with food, clothing, equipment, and other services. the hills, miners had to dig shafts and tunnels. Miners paid high prices for basic necessities These tasks were usually pursued by mining because the large amounts of gold in circula- companies, rather than by individuals. tion caused severe infl ation in California. A In 1853 California’s yearly gold produc- loaf of bread, for example, might cost 5 cents tion peaked at more than $60 million. Indi- in the East, but it would sell for 50 to 75 cents vidual success stories inspired many miners. in San Francisco. Eggs sometimes sold for $1 One lucky man found two and a half pounds a piece. of gold after only 15 minutes of work. Two Some settlers took full advantage of these African American miners found a rich gold conditions for free enterprise. Biddy Mason deposit that became known as Negro Hill and her family, for instance, had arrived in in honor of their discovery. The vast major- California as slaves. A slaveholder ity of miners, however, did not become rich. had brought them during the gold-rush years. Forty-niner Alonzo Delano commented that Mason quickly discovered that most Califor- the “lean, meager [thin], worn-out and woe- nians opposed slavery, particularly in the gold begone [sorrowful] miner . . . might daily be seen mines. She and her family gained their freedom at almost every point in the upper mines.” and moved to the small village of . There she saved money until she could pur- Life in the Mining Camps chase some land. Over time, Mason’s property Mining camps sprang up wherever enough increased in value from $250 to $200,000. She people gathered to look for gold. These became one of the wealthiest landowners in camps had colorful names, such as Hang- California, a community leader, and a well- town or Poker Flat. known supporter of charities.

EXPANDING WEST 329 miners dared to protest the attacks, the legal Westward Movement system favored Americans over immigrants. in the United States Despite such treatment, many Chinese immigrants still worked in the gold mines. Some looked for other jobs. Others opened Causes their own businesses. A newspaper reported • Americans believe in the idea of . Chinese working as “ploughmen, laundry- • The United States acquires vast new lands in men, placer miners, woolen spinners and the West. weavers, domestic servants, cigar makers, • Pathfinders open to new territories. [and] shoemakers.” • Gold is discovered in California. In 1849 alone, about 20,000 immigrants arrived in California not only from but also from , Mexico, and South Effects America. Like most American gold-seekers, • Native Americans are forced off lands. these new arrivals intended to return home • Americans travel west to settle new areas. after they had made their fortunes. Howev- • The United States stretches to the er, many decided to stay. Some began busi- Ocean. nesses. For example, , a German • California experiences a population boom. immigrant, earned a fortune by making tough denim pants for miners.

READING CHECK Categorizing What types of people came to California during ? Immigrants to California The lure of gold in California attracted min- ers from around the world. Many were from Impact on California THE IMPACT countries that had seen few immigrants to the During the Spanish and Mexican periods TODAY United States in the past. They were drawn to of settlement, California’s population grew Today California is California by the lure of wealth. For example, slowly. The arrival of the forty-niners changed the nation’s most populous state. famine and economic hardship in south- this dramatically. eastern China caused many Chinese men to leave China for America. Most hoped to fi nd Population Boom great wealth, and then return home to China. California’s population explosion made it These immigrants were known in Chinese as eligible for statehood only two years after gam saan haak, or “travelers to Gold Moun- being acquired by the United States. In 1850 tain.” Between 1849 and 1853 about 24,000 California became the 31st state. Chinese men moved to California. “From far However, fast population growth had neg- and near we came and were pleased,” wrote ative consequences for many and merchant Lai Chun-chuen in 1855. California Native Americans. One early Chinese immigrants soon discovered observer of the gold rush described why. that many Americans did not welcome The Yankee regarded every man but [his own them, however. In 1852, California placed “ kind] as an interloper [trespasser], who had no a high monthly tax on all foreign miners. right to come to California and pick up the gold Chinese miners had no choice but to pay of ‘free and enlightened citizens.’” this tax if they wanted to prospect for gold —W. Kelly, quoted in The Other Californians, in California. Some Chinese workers were by Robert F. Heizer and Alan F. Almquist the targets of violent attacks. If the Chinese

330 CHAPTER 10 San Francisco Grows 3AN&RANCISCO0OPULATION n  San Francisco boomed in the early years of the gold rush.  What factors led to San Francis- co’s population growth?  INTHOUSANDS



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Economic Growth Section 4 Assessment Online Quiz In addition to rapid population growth, a KEYWORD: SS8 HP10 fl ood of new businesses and industries trans- Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People HSS 8.8.3, formed California’s economy. 1. a. Recall Why was Sutter’s Mill important? 8.8.5, 8.9.4 remained an important part of the state’s b. Summarize What types of people participated in the early economy. But Californians soon dis- California gold rush, and how did they take part in it? covered other ways to make a living. Farm- c. Elaborate What are some possible problems caused by the arrival of so many new settlers to California? ing and ranching, for example, became 2. a. Describe How did some people hope to solve the industries for those willing to do the neces- problem of California’s isolation from the rest of sary hard labor. the country? California faced an obstacle to growth, b. Draw Inferences What effect did California’s rapid though. The state was isolated from the rest population growth have on Californios and Native of the country. It was diffi cult to bring in and Americans? ship out goods. The answer to the isolation c. Evaluate Overall, do you think that the gold rush had a problem was to bring the railroad all the way positive or negative effect on California? Explain. to California. Californians would have to Critical Thinking wait almost 20 years for that. Completion of 3. Evaluating Copy the web diagram below. Use it to show the transcontinental railroad in 1869 at last how the discovery of gold changed California. gave Californians the means to grow a stron- ger economy. Discovery of Gold READING CHECK Analyzing Information What political effect resulted from California’s rapid population growth? FOCUS ON WRITING 4. Describing the California Gold Rush As you read this SUMMARY AND PREVIEW Americans section, take note of signifi cant events and effects of the moved West to create new lives and seize gold rush. Consider also how your fi lm can convey the new opportunities. In the next chapter you excitement of that time in American history. will learn about the in America.

EXPANDING WEST 331 History and Geography America’s Growth   

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%THNIC'ROUPS  - Territory  7HITE%UROPEAN Gold Fever !FRICAN!MERICAN The discovery of .ATIVE!MERICAN gold in California in 1848 set off a  !SIAN massive migration. In 1849 some 80,000 -EXICAN!MERICAN forty-niners headed toward California. San Francisco, located on an excellent natural port, grew quickly as a result.

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Manifest Destiny With the belief that the United States was destined to spread across the continent, called manifest destiny, settlers headed West to tame new lands. Supporters of manifest destiny believed it Ê Ê Ê was God’s will that the United States should expand Ê Ê  and spread democracy across . ,

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™äcÊ7 EXPANDING WEST 333 Social Studies Skills

Analysis Critical Thinking Participation Study

CS3 Students use a variety of maps and documents to identify physical and cultural features. Interpreting Maps: Expansion

Define the Skill 3 Note the map’s other features. Maps often con- tain labels and other information in addition to Maps show features on Earth’s surface. These can what is explained in the legend or key. be physical features, such as mountains and rivers, or human features, such as roads and settlements. Historical maps show an area as it was in the past. Practice the Skill Some show how a nation’s boundaries changed over time. Interpreting maps can answer questions Interpret the map below to answer the following about history as well as geography. questions about the expansion of the United States. 1. The addition of which territory almost doubled the size of the United States? Learn the Skill 2. What was the smallest expansion of U.S. bor- ders, and when did it take place? Follow these steps to gain information from a map. 3. According to the map, when did California 1 Read the title to determine what the map is become part of the United States? about and the time period it covers. 4. What choice of overland routes did a traveler 2 Study the legend or key to understand what the have for getting to California? colors or symbols on the map mean. Note the 5. What physical obstacles does the map show map scale, which is used to measure distances. such a traveler would face?

R O Portlandd C K Growth of the United States Y to 1853 United States, 1783 40˚N O re M , 1803 gon O C T al rail U ifo Red River Basin, 1818 N rn l ia i T Tr SSanan a ail Spanish Cession, 1819 Tr A Francisco I Fe Tr h N a ail is nt Independence n S n , 1845 pa a S S ld O , 1846 Los Mexican Cession, 1848 Angeles N ATLANTIC Gadsden Purchase, 1853 30˚N W OCEAN Disputed Territory E 0 300 600 Miles S 0 300 600 Kilometers PACIFIC Gulf of Mexico OCEAN 110˚W 90˚W 80˚W

334 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER10 Standards Review Visual Summary Reviewing Vocabulary, Use the visual summary below to help you review Terms, and People the main ideas of the chapter. Identify the correct term or person from the chapter that best fi ts each of the following descriptions. 1. Mexican priest who led a rebellion for indepen- U.S. Expansion dence from Spain 1839 Sutter’s 2. Spanish colonists in California Fort established. 3. A group of pioneers who were stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and struggled to sur- 1840 Pioneers begin traveling West vive the winter on the Oregon Trail. 4. Agents hired by the Mexican government to attract settlers to Texas 5. The belief that the United States was meant to expand across the continent to the Pacific Ocean 6. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints 1845 United States annexes Texas. 7. traders and trappers who lived west of the Rocky Mountains and in the 1846 Mexican War begins. 8. Mexican ruler who fought to keep Texas from gaining independence 9. Swiss immigrant who received permission from 1848 United Mexico to start a colony in California States wins the 10. Western trail from to New Mexico Mexican War and that was an important route for trade between gains the Mexican Cession. Oregon American and Mexican merchants becomes a U.S. territory. Comprehension and 1849 California gold rush begins. Critical Thinking SECTION 1 (Pages 308–311) HSS 8.8.2 11. a. Identify What different groups of people traveled West? b. Draw Conclusions Why did 1853 Gadsden move the Mormon community to Utah? Purchase establishes the southwestern c. Predict What are some possible problems U.S. border. that might result from American settlement in the West?

EXPANDING WEST 335 SECTION 2 (Pages 312–315) HSS 8.8.5, 8.8.6 17. Summarize the selection at the bottom of 12. a.Identify Who were Stephen F. Austin and column one in one sentence. Antonio López de Santa Anna? b.Draw Conclusions Why did settlers in Texas Social Studies Skills rebel against Mexican rule? Interpreting Maps: Expansion Use the Social c.Elaborate In what ways was the Texas struggle Studies Skills taught in this chapter to answer the for independence similar to that of the United question about the map below. States? The United States in 1853 Portland R O SECTION 3 (Pages 316–325) HSS 8.8.6 OREGON C COUNTRY K 13. a. Recall Why were some Americans opposed to 1846 Y 40˚N M

the annexation of new territories? O

MEXICAN U San CESSION N b. Draw Conclusions What economic and Francisco 1848 T

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Angeles S have on American settlers GADSDEN ATLANTIC 0˚N PURCHASE TEXAS OCEAN in the Mexican Cession? 1853 ANNEXATION 1845 c. Predict What are some possible problems the PACIFIC acquisition of so much territory might cause the OCEAN Gulf of Mexico 90˚W 80˚W United States? N 120˚W W E 0˚N S 110˚W SECTION 4 (Pages 326–331) HSS 8.8.3, 8.8.5, 8.9.4 14. a. Identify What roles did women and immigrants play in the California gold rush? 18. According to the map, place the following in b. Make Inferences Why were most gold-rush the order in which they were acquired by the settlers young, unmarried men? United States. c. Predict What long-term effects might the a. Oregon Country c. Mexican Cession gold rush have on California’s future? b. Gadsden Purchase d. Texas annexation

Reviewing Themes FOCUS ON WRITING 15. Economics What role did economics play in 19. Writing an Outline for a Documentary Film the desire of Americans to go West? Look back through all your notes, and choose 16. Geography What were the main trails to the one topic from this chapter that you think West, and what areas did they pass through? would make a good 10-minute documentary. Your outline should be organized by scene (no more than 3 scenes), in chronological order. Reading Skills For each scene, give the following information: Summarizing Use the Reading Skills taught in this main idea of scene, costumes and images to be chapter to answer the question about the reading used, audio to be used, and length of scene. As selection below. you plan, remember that the audience will be students your own age. The war ended after Scott took Mexico City. In February 1848, the United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,which officially ended the war and forced Mexico to turn over much of its northern territory to the United States. (p. 323)

336 CHAPTER 10 Standards Assessment

DIRECTIONS: Read each question and write the B The soil there was rich and good for farming. letter of the best response. Use the map below to C Trappers could use the river to bring from answer question 1. the mountains to trade. D The location offered easy protection from ! attacks by Native Americans or the French.

$ The main attraction of Texas for many Ameri- cans in the 1820s and 1830s was the A freedom to practice the Catholic faith. W B availability of cheap or free land. C desire to become citizens of Mexico. The United States D Mexican rebellion against Spain. X in 1818

ATLANTIC % Which of the following was not due to the OCEAN Y Mexican-American War? PACIFIC N Z OCEAN A Mexican foods and festivals became more 0 300 600 Miles E Gulf of W important to American culture. 0 300 600 Kilometers Mexico S B Prosperity of Mexican landowners in the South- west increased under U.S. rule. C Mexican Americans introduced new ideas and The part of the present-day United States equipment to the United States. that was once claimed by Britain, Spain, and D The size of the United States increased by Russia is shown on the map by the letter about 25 percent. A W. B X. Connecting with Past Learnings C Y. D Z. ^ In a previous chapter you learned that Puri- tans traveled to the Americas in search of @ In general, what position did Californios religious freedom. Which group had similar take toward the Mexican War? motives for its migration to the West? A They supported the war because they wanted A Californios independence from Mexico. B empresarios B They supported the war because they wanted C mountain men to become U.S. citizens. D Mormons C They opposed the war because they feared it might bring an end to slavery. & In Grade 7 you learned of explorers who D They opposed the war because they did not raced to fi nd wealth during the Age of want to lose control of California. Exploration. Which group below was most similar to these explorers? # What was the main reason John Jacob A the Donner party Astor founded Astoria at the mouth of the in 1811? B forty-niners A Plenty of freshwater and saltwater fi sh were C Mexican Americans available for residents to eat. D Calilfornios

EXPANDING WEST 337 Assignment Write a paper explaining the Cause and Effect causes or the effects of the . in History

istorians try to make sense of an event by considering Hwhy the event happened and what resulted from it. Exploring causes and effects can provide a deeper under- standing of historical events and how they are connected to one another.

1. Prewrite

TIP Using a Graphic Organizer Identifying Causes and Effects Use a graphic organizer like this to A cause is an action or a situation that makes something else hap- organize your research. pen. What happens is called an effect. For example, if you stay up too late watching TV (cause), you might find yourself nodding off in class Cause 1 ? (effect). Often an event or situation will have several causes as well as Cause 2 several effects. In those cases, we may look at the order in which the ? causes or effects occurred, or we may look at their relative importance. Event or Situation ? Researching and Organizing Effect For this paper, you will write about the causes or the effects of the event ? —the War of 1812. Gather information from the chapter in this text- Effect book, an encyclopedia, or another source recommended by your teacher. ■ Look for two or three reasons (causes) why the War of 1812 (the event or situation) occurred. ■ At the same time, consider the war as a cause. Look for two or ELA Writing 8.2.0 Students write narrative, expository, persuasive, and three effects of the war. descriptive essays of at least 500 to Then choose whether to write about the causes or the effects. 700 words. 2. Write A Writer’s Framework You can use this framework to help you write your first draft.

Introduction Body Conclusion ■ Begin with a quote or interesting fact ■ Present the causes or effects in ■ Summarize your ideas about the about the event. chronological (time) order or order causes or the effects of the event ■ Identify the event you will discuss. of importance. [the war]. [The War of 1812] ■ Explain each cause or effect in its ■ Identify whether you will be own paragraph, providing support discussing the causes or the effects. with facts and examples.

338 UNIT 3 3. Evaluate and Revise TIP Recognizing False Cause- Evaluating and-Effect In planning your essay, be careful to avoid false cause- Drawing clear, logical connections is the key to writing about causes and-effect relationships. The fact and effects. Use these questions to evaluate and revise your paper. that one thing happened before Evaluation Questions for an Explanation of Causes or Effects or after another doesn’t mean one caused the other. For example, ■ Does the introduction begin with an ■ Do facts and examples help to the fact that James Madison was interesting quotation or fact? explain each cause or effect and elected in 1808, just four years ■ Does the introduction identify the connect it to the event [the war]? before the War of 1812, does not event [the war] and the causes or ■ Are the causes or effects organized mean his election caused the War events to be discussed? clearly—by chronological order or of 1812. ■ Is each cause or effect explained in order of importance? its own paragraph? ■ Does the conclusion summarize the causes or effects and their importance?

Revising TIP Using Transitions Here Make sure the connections between the war and its causes or effects are some transitional words are clear by sharing your paper with a classmate. If your classmate is and phrases that show cause or confused, add background information. If he or she disagrees with effect relationships: because, as your conclusions, add evidence or rethink your reasoning. a result, therefore, for, since, so, consequently, for this reason 4. Proofread and Publish Proofreading Some transitional words and phrases need to be set off from the sentence with commas. Here are two examples: ■ The Louisiana Territory was a huge region of land. As a result, the size of the United States almost doubled when the land was purchased. ■ Jefferson wanted to know more about the land he had purchased. Therefore, he asked Congress to fund an expedition. Check your paper to see if you need to add commas after or around any transitional words or phrases. Publishing Get together with a classmate and share causes and/or effects. Com- pare your lists to see whether you have identified different causes or effects. Share your findings with your class.

5. Practice and Apply Use the steps and strategies outlined in this workshop to write your explanation of the causes or effects of the War of 1812.

THE NEW REPUBLIC 339