The Move Westward – The 49ers

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Slide 1

The Move Westward

The 49er’s

Who came to California?

Life on the Mine

The Chinese

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Slide 2

There be Gold in Thar Hills

Mexicans had discovered gold before the famous strike on John Sutter’s Mill

John Sutter is credited with discovering gold in California but it was really a hired hand named James Marshall

Gold is discovered in 1848 on Sutter’s sawmill

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Slide 3

There be Gold in Thar Hills

2 Reasons for the Gold Rush were:

A 16 oz gold nugget is displayed in the Northeast and leads to immigration towards the west in search of riches

Whites believe in Manifest Destiny

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Slide 4

There be Gold in Thar Hills

Most 49er’s do not locate gold and strike it rich they expected to pick gold of the ground

A typical miner locates gold flakes not gold nuggets

Most tend to give up after a couple of months or end up working for a mining company

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Slide 5

Life on a Mining Camp

Once 49er’s arrived to California they experienced

Disease

Danger from criminals, Indian attacks and dangerous work

Hard work and exhaustion

Uncomfortable conditions

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Slide 6

Life on a Mining Camp

Miners have to contend with high prices, gamblers and criminals

San Francisco in 1845 had a population of 400 but after gold is found it increases to 32,000 by 1850!

This lead to the scarcity of items which then lead to unusually high prices for example and egg might cost you $20!!!

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Slide 7

Life on a Mining Camp

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Slide 8

Who came looking for Gold?

2/3 came from the United States from all walks of life. They seek a new beginning based on economic opportunity

1/3 come are from South America, Mexico, Europe and China

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Slide 9

Who came looking for Gold?

The Chinese come because they are escaping war, poverty and unemployment

They expect to strike it rich and return home to buy land and get married, most end up staying here

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