Includes a narrative overview, biographies, primary sources, chronology, glossary. For the gold rush era also try california gold discoveries sources and its variants. Sutter hutchings california magazine, november 1857 this page is on the website of the virtual museum of the city of san francisco. Boyle, a columbus physician who was one of 60 adventurers who left columbus on april 2, 1849, to seek their fortune in the california gold rush. For original gold rush diaries you probably would need to go to the california room at the california state library downtown or to the california historical society in san francisco. Race, catastrophe, and the shaping of california oxford, 1999, 78. The gold rush that followed changed the lives of californias native americans, too. In it, she provides many interesting details about what it was like to live and work in a mining camp during the gold rush in california. Next, they analyze a primary source account of the gold rush, in which a man expresses frustration but also hope, and details his observations about the native americans near the camp. For those who found gold, it often became currency to pay for food, supplies, and other necessities so they could keep looking for more. The california gold rush thousands of people caught gold fever and decided to go west in order to see the elephant, as the great adventure was often called. For additional resources, look at the primary source libguide.
The california gold rush in their own words and images. The california gold rush was the largest mass migration in american history since it brought about 300,000 people to california. First person narratives, 18491900, and ideas to help students develop critical thinking skills through the use of primary sources from the library of congress. They also have a gold rush timeline of events under the resources section. The gold rush of 1848 brought still more devastation. Newspaper reports, letters, and guidebooks from the early days of the gold rush clearly indicate the presence of native americans working as miners. Asian american studies research guide primary sources search this guide search. Archival collections and primary sources on the web libguides. The time and place affect the meaning of the source because the way life was in california in that time was way different then what it was like anywhere else. Sabrina swain at home sabrina and william swain lived in youngstown, new. This news quickly spread across the country and around the world, igniting the california gold rush. Friday, april 12th, 1850 left milwaukee at 1 oclock for california with 6 wagons and 16 men.
To locate primary sources on your topic, an easy way is to search oscar, the library catalog and to add to your search some keywords describing primary sources such as. He was born in 1818 and sailed out of new york in 1849. Below are links to excerpts of letters by miners involved in the california gold rush and other residents of the mother lode region in the 1800s. Schliemann and the california gold rush by wout arentzen.
There are some good things in brought, and others not so good. Between 1848 and 1855, 300,000 fortuneseekers came to california, transforming its population, landscape. May 12, 2020 the california gold rush experience bancroft exhibit through journals, letters, emigrant guides and other early accounts of the gold fields, photographs, lettersheets, sheet music, maps, lithographs, drawings and other pictorial materials, the exhibit presents the experience of those affected by the gold rush during the early years of. The few short years of the gold rush changed california s population and environment dramatically.
On january 24, 1848, carpenter james marshall discovered gold at sutters. Mary ballous view of the gold rushhistorical letter. James marshall found this tiny piece of pure gold in the tailrace of john sutters coloma, california, sawmill on january 24, 1848. The california state library got its start during the height of the gold rush.
Written accounts of the murder, rape, and slavery of native americans during the california gold rush, 18481868 edited by clifford e. More than 150,000 digitized items, including photographs, documents, newspaper pages, political cartoons, works of art, diaries, transcribed oral histories, advertising, and other unique cultural artifacts, reveal the diverse history and culture of. William left for the gold fields in the spring of 1849. The gold rush diary of george bonniwell presented in five parts part i april, 1850 diary courtesy of barbara sumner. The letter below was written by mary ballou to her son, selden.
California gold rush 1849 primary source worksheet by. The primary source document is labeled california gold rush, 1849. Overview of the gold rush by curator emeritus gary f. Gold rush document a modified background the following is a reminiscent account by james shimer and colonel john conwell of their trip to the gold fields of california. The activity has two major components, an interactive web site. Reports from 1848 and early 1849 estimate there were about twice as many indian miners as white miners. Letters writings and photographs from the california gold rush.
Yet, there were many people already living in california. The new york herald printed news of the discovery in august 1848 and the rush for gold accelerated into a stampede. The gold rush was a very important time in american history. Eyewitness accounts record the turbulent history of the pioneer experience and the gold rush. A correspondent of the north american writing in monterey, in california says. The california gold rush lindell primary secondary search this guide search. Name class date family letters during the california gold rush as you read note that sabrina and william swain have different views of the gold rush. It started when james marshall found gold in california. California gold rush 1849 primary source worksheet by history.
The text is duplicated exactly as it appeared in the newspaper. As the news spread, the rush was on, and an estimated 300,000 prospectors flooded into california. A map showing the gold mining region of california and routes for traveling there. The gold rush of 1849 was a very important event in history. Our documentary heritage this pennsylvania historical and museum commission site includes images of historical documents, narratives placing them in a regional, state or national context, and, where appropriate, transcriptions of each record as. To do searching on your own, search your topic with the phrase primary sources and especially look for museums, archives, or educational institutions in the results. The enslaved native americans who made the gold rush possible. Gold rush activities and resources homeschoolingideas. The miners ten commandments, published in a placerville newspaper in 1853. What do you know about this topic that would help you further understand this primary source. But then he noticed a glinting rock in the dirt while constructing a new mill for local landowner john sutter.
The discovery of gold nuggets in the sacramento valley in early 1848 sparked the california gold rush, one of the largest mass migrations in american history. Well i suppose you would like to know what i am doing in this gold. However, only a minority of miners made much money from the californian gold rush. Officially titled an act to execute certain treaty stipulations relating to chinese, the chinese exclusion act prohibited the immigration of chinese laborers for ten years. This futurefit project is a supplemental projectbased lesson covering the 1849 california gold rush and map skills while examining primary sources of historical information from the time period. This actually, is a very informative site and well worth a look around. After we was alone in a private room he showed me the first specimens of gold, that is he was not certain if it was gold or not, but he thought it might be. Between 1848 and 1854, about 300,000 people came to california in search of gold. For example a search on gold rush and letters would retrieve the following book. Native americans and the california gold rushexcerpts from exterminate them. Ethnic diversity grew as people from all over the world poured into the state, ignoring numerous dangers and the everpresent risk of earthquakes to follow their dreams of striking gold. Early accounts of indians in the california gold rush herb. What clues can you gather about the time, place, players, and culture. Features examples drawn from the california history sections special collections.
The california gold rush of 18491855 radically transformed california, the united states and the world. By 1870, an estimated 30,000 native people remained in the state of california, most on. Will bagley, scoundrels tale will bagleys scoundrels tale is an exhaustive collection of primary sources related to the life of one of the gold rush s most famous characters, mormon leader turned buccaneering businessman sam brannan. Explore resources and ideas for using dplas primary source sets in your classroom. Many libraries and archives across the country from yale university to the henry e. This resource for teachers provides information about the american memory collection, california as i saw it. Hyer published in 1999 source for information on native americans and the california gold rush.
It was extended in 1892 for another ten years by the geary act and then made permanent. Huntington library preserve formidable collections of gold rush material, but the state librarys direct relationship to marshalls earthshaking discovery gives it a unique role. Reports from 1848 and early 1849 estimate there were about. The california gold rush of the late 1840s drew thousands of people to americas west coast. The gold rush diary of george bonniwell april, 1850. Marshall found gold on his piece of land at sutters mill in coloma. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below. This is the actual nugget that sparked the rush for california gold. The coarse is a fine specimen found on this fork, but gold found here is often as coarse as a hickory nut. California gold rush map there are two maps available on the calgoldrush site one of sea routes and one of land routes. The discovery was first met with skepticism and the california gold rush did not begin in full until after an endorsement from president james polk in december, 1848. California gold rush dpla digital public library of america.
Most came with their husbands or fathers, but a few came by themselves. The california gold rush, 1849 eyewitness to history. Native californians were treated abominably in the area where gold was first discovered. This teaching guide helps instructors use a specific primary source set. California gold rush seekers, scoundrels, loss and luck. Explore resources and ideas for using dplas primary source sets in your. As a primary source, the california scrapbook, complied by oscar t. Chinese merchant complains of racist abuse, 1860 the california gold rush of 1849 brought a major influx of asian immigrants to the new state. California gold rush printable primary source worksheet. Within years, they would be almost wiped out due to the massive immigrationand hunger for wealth the. A book can also include primary sources in appendices.
Early accounts of indians in the california gold rush. On january 24, 1848, carpenter james marshall discovered gold at sutters mill, a sawmill on the american river in coloma, california. The worksheet includes 12 questions and has an answer sheet for the teacher. In this letter, a woman describes life at a mining camp where some got rich, and some lost all. Reproductions of primary sources remember, we wont have the originals can often be found in books and on websites. For example a search on gold rush and letters would retrieve the following. This superb anthology, a diverse and illuminating collection of primary documents and stories by chinese americans, provides an intimate and textured history of the chinese in america from their arrival during the california gold rush to the present. This massive influx of people came to be known as the gold rush. Some, particularly early gold rushers who arrived in 1848, found impressive fortunes in california gold, but most prospectors failed to strike it rich. Traditionally, historians of the gold rush have focused their attention on 1849 the year most angloamericans arrived from the east coast. Shufelts letter is part of the collection of the library of congress a letter from a gold miner, placerville, california, march, 1850. Primary sources asian american studies research guide. Primary sources california history research guides at diablo.
This number only grew after railroad companies turned to chinese laborers to build western railroads. Main article primary sources 1 john sutter, diary entry 28th january, 1848 marshall arrived in the evening, it was raining very heavy, but he told me he came on important business. Apr 09, 2020 to find specific types of published primary sources in subsequent search approaches, replace sources with one of these subject terms. Students read the document and answer the questions on the worksheet.
In january 1848, james wilson marshall discovered gold while constructing a saw mill along the american river northeast of presentday sacramento. The california gold rush experience bancroft exhibit through journals, letters, emigrant guides and other early accounts of the gold fields, photographs, lettersheets, sheet music, maps, lithographs, drawings and other pictorial materials, the exhibit presents the experience of those affected by the gold rush during the early years of. The project provides a rich set of primary sources to investigate and analyze the gold rush era and the lives of fortyniners. Key events in americas westward expansion, the louisiana purchase, the annexation of texas, the war with mexico, and the california gold rush are examined through maps and primary sources, geographys impact on the evolution of united states political parties by scott mace, charlottesville hs, charlottesville, va. Learn more by visiting the today in history section, then click the links below to discover gold related primary sources and other resources from across the library. Historical impact of the california gold rush norwich. Sabrina swain at home sabrina and william swain lived in youngstown, new york. Other examples of published primary sources are government documents like the census, public records, or a. Little chang is a chinese immigrant, living in a california gold mining town. The gold rush diary of charles e boyle this is the diary of dr.
The book presents littleknown tales of the 1849 gold rush and features stories of searchers and scoundrels, struggle and serendipity. People trying to make a fortune flocked to california during the 19th century gold rush. He was captured by spanish bandits while crossing the panama isthmus. Sabrina was left at home with her mother and young daughter. This is the official account of a visit paid to the gold region in july 1848 by colonel richard barnes mason, who had been appointed to the military command in california, and wrote his report for the. The chinese exclusion act pdf, 428kb of 1882 was signed into law on may 6, 1882. Primary sources by region university of southern california. It was much more common for people to become wealthy by providing the miners with overpriced food, supplies and services. Apr, 2020 calisphere is the university of california s free public gateway to a world of primary sources. Primary sources united states and california history. In 1848, gold was found in a river valley west of the sierra nevada. Primary sources are documents that were recorded or written down at the time an event occurred.
On january 24, 1848, carpenter james marshall discovered gold at sutters mill. These primary sources chronicle the people and organizations as they developed over time and place. Illustrates nineteenth and early twentieth century chinese immigration to california through images and pages of primary source materials. It is designed to reinforce core social studies subject material while also incorporating socialemotional learning and 21st century skills and concepts. Firstperson narratives of california s early years, 18491900 documents the formative era of the state of california. The enslaved native americans who made the gold rush.
For the gold rush era also try california gold discoveries sources. Commandments from the miners wife, published in a cleveland newspaper in 1849. To find specific types of published primary sources in subsequent search approaches, replace sources with one of these subject terms. The california gold rush 18481855 began on january 24, 1848, when gold was found by james w.
Rape, and slavery of native americans during the california gold rush, 18481868. Finally, students analyze a thomas nast political cartoon from the era, using their background knowledge and details from the cartoon to explain its meaning in a. Gold seekers traveled overland across the mountains to california 30,000 assembled at launch points along the plains in the spring of 1849 or took the roundabout sea routes. Shuck in 1869, contains not only a plethora of information about the expansion and history of the gold rush, but also about the manner in which this gold was found and mined. News of the discovery spread quickly, starting the california gold rush. Family letters during the california gold rush as you read note that sabrina and william swain have different views of the gold rush. A primary source is something that was created andor experienced at the time being studied. Dame shirleys celebrated letters from rich bar which appeared in californias first periodical, the pioneer, and the journal of the hartford union mining company, actually printed on board a california bound ship in 1849, serve as a solid foundation of early eyewitness accounts. California gold rush these images from the state librarys collection are included in the book gold rush stories. James marshall didnt come to california to find gold. Lightly populated by american indians, spanish missionaries, and traders, california passed into the hands of the united states as a result of the mexican war of 184648.