A Historical Account of the California Gold Rush
Few events in history have caused the kind of frenzy observed in the California Gold Rush. For many,
the
promise of quick wealth was too much temptation to resist. Once the news reached major cities, the
number of fortune-seekers grew rapidly. Some did find wealth in the California hills, but many
others
found disappointment as the gold dust continued to prove elusive. The massive influx of people and
environmentally damaging mining methods left a lasting impression on the state.
Discovery at Sutter's Mill
Small traces of gold had been found in California prior to the 1840s, but it was James W. Marshall's
January 1848
discovery that kicked
off the Gold Rush. While working around the site of John Sutter's new sawmill, Marshall discovered
unfamiliar flecks of rock among some
white quartz. Marshall didn't know what raw gold looked like, but he did know that gold was
sometimes found buried within quartz. From those few humble specks, Marshall later found larger
pieces,
including one early piece worth 50 cents at the time (more than $15 in today's money). Soon he and
his
men found more, and word of his discovery spread. Over the next few years, men flocked to the area
from
miles around, and by early 1849, the non-native population of San Francisco had swelled from 1,000
to more
than 26,000.
Effects of the California Gold Rush: Gold Fever
At first, news of the discovery spread by word of mouth, but soon, the big story hit the newspapers.
Local papers carried the story right away, and by August 1848, the New York Herald had
published a piece. Some doubted the lofty
claims in the papers, but the fear of missing out on riches was overpowering. The flood of
men,
work animals, and equipment into the area surrounding San Francisco has been called the greatest
mass migration in Western history. New businesses sprang up in California as people left
their
hometowns (sometimes selling all of their belongings and mortgaging their houses) and set out for
California. Of course, not everyone set out to make money by finding gold. Some took advantage by
advertising scam products in their local newspapers, like the "Goldometer," a dowsing
rod that promised to find gold.
The 49ers Come to California
In the 19th century, the trip to California was not an easy one. Many travelers fell ill or died on
their
way west and never found the riches they sought. Many of these victims were from large cities and
set
out west in desperation to find a better life. They were unaccustomed to the harsh conditions,
however,
and many died along the
trails that led west. Nonetheless, California's non-native population skyrocketed past
100,000
on its way to over 300,000 by the time of the first federal census in 1860.
The California Gold Rush was a time of rags to riches for some, but most found the going hard and
fruitless. The random nature of finding gold in the hills could sustain one man abundantly and leave
another with
nothing. Due to price gouging at the time, it's been said that the only sure way to get rich
during the gold rush was to supply miners
with pans and camping supplies.
California's Mines After the Gold Rush
As soon as 1850, the massive influx of miners had taken its toll. The easier to find (and easier to
reach) veins had been depleted, and each new find took more time and more effort. Soon, hand-panning
for
gold was all
but obsolete. In its place stood hydraulic extraction, which allowed companies to blast
through
more rock to find the elusive gold. These changes put the individual miner at a nearly
insurmountable
disadvantage as hydraulic
mining dominated. The new technology ushered in ever-greater profits, with gold valued in
the
tens of millions of dollars being extracted each year. By 1857, though, even water cannons failed to
produce as many gold nuggets as they had previously. Not long after, the gold rush slowed
considerably.
New miners continued to boost California's population, however, as each one arrived convinced that
they
could still strike it rich. Others left California in search of richer veins, such as those found in
New
Mexico's
gold rush.
Environmental Impact of the Gold Rush
Hydraulic mining methods and explosive population growth took their toll on California's environment.
Hundreds of thousands of new residents, fueled by greed and desperation, trampled across the state.
Hydraulic miners dammed
rivers and siphoned millions of gallons of water. Blasting from water cannons led to clogged
waterways and heavily modified ecosystems. Miners logged timber to build homes, businesses,
and
dams, with little care for sustaining the environment. Among other methods, miners used mercury to
extract gold from quartz and other minerals. This poisonous element persists in the surrounding
environment, leading to unsafe levels
of
mercury in local fish.
Lesson Plans and Study Guides on Westward Expansion