California Gold Rush
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People looking for gold by the river
The Gold Rush was kicked off by James W. Marshall on January 24, 1848. Marshall had found a gold nugget while building a sawmill for John Sutter, an agriculturalist. As news of Marshall' luck got to the Americans in the east, many packed for the journey to the west in search of gold themselves ( many of them were men, but there were some women and children ). By 1849, the population of California had skyrocketed thus causing the U.S. to induct California as its 31st state. To supply the needs of miners, shops and houses were set up. Many major cities, such as San Francisco sprung up in a matter of days.
As news of gold went worldwide, many people from countries such as Turkey, Mexico, Germany, Ireland, and most of all China, immigrated to the America for a chance of striking gold. These immigrants had no intentions of staying. They just wanted to reap the benefits of the gold and then return back to their country. As immigrants came, the U.S. set up the Foreign Miners Tax, which required foreigners to pay a monthly fee of $20. This was among one of the first laws set up to prevent immigrants especially Chinese from entering the U.S.A. However, despite ethnic clashes, the Gold Rush of 1849 changed the demographic of California forever.
As news of gold went worldwide, many people from countries such as Turkey, Mexico, Germany, Ireland, and most of all China, immigrated to the America for a chance of striking gold. These immigrants had no intentions of staying. They just wanted to reap the benefits of the gold and then return back to their country. As immigrants came, the U.S. set up the Foreign Miners Tax, which required foreigners to pay a monthly fee of $20. This was among one of the first laws set up to prevent immigrants especially Chinese from entering the U.S.A. However, despite ethnic clashes, the Gold Rush of 1849 changed the demographic of California forever.
Importance of the Gold Rush
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Newspaper article on the Gold Rush of '49
The Gold Rush was important in that it allowed the colonization and eventually domination of the west by the U.S.A. This event drastically helped the economy of the U.S. Not only did it add land to the American Union, but it also encouraged western development. This was a event that further the Manifest Destiny. Also, the Gold Rush allowed the development of many of our present-day cities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc.