California Gold Rush

8 Questions

How many people went to California from the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world in the next year?

100,000

Where did gold-seekers from Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and China mostly sail from?

Well-established trade routes across the Pacific

What was the approximate length of a voyage from the East Coast to California around Cape Horn?

17,000 miles

What was a shorter alternative route to California for citizens of the United States?

Sailing to Panama, crossing the isthmus, and sailing to California

What was the situation with steamship travel in the Pacific until 1850?

There was no regular steamship travel

How many people poured into California in 1849?

40,000

What was the main route to California for those without money for a sea passage or with heavy cargos of household goods?

Traveling overland across the Plains and through the mountain passes

What was the main reason many people came to California during the Gold Rush?

To provide goods and services to gold miners

Study Notes

The California Gold Rush

Close to 100,000 people arrived in California in the next year from the United States, Europe, and around the world.
Gold-seekers from Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and China sailed across the Pacific along established trade routes.

Journey to California

The journey from the East Coast to California around Cape Horn was 17,000 miles long and took around five months.
A shorter alternative was sailing to Panama, crossing the isthmus by foot or horseback, and sailing to California from Central America's Pacific Coast.
Until 1850, there was no regular steamship travel in the Pacific, resulting in passengers being stranded in Panama for weeks or months.

Arrival in California

In 1849, approximately 40,000 people arrived in California through various sea routes.
Most arrived at the port of San Francisco, formerly known as Yerba Buena, leading to the town's rapid growth.

Overland Route

Those without money for a sea passage or with heavy cargos of household goods had to take the overland route across the Plains and through California's eastern border mountain passes.
25,000 to 30,000 people, including men, women, and children, took this route in 1849.

Alternative Opportunities

Many entrepreneurs realized they could make money by providing goods and services to gold miners, rather than mining themselves.
Professions such as merchants, dance hall girls, and cardsharps emerged to cater to the miners.

Impact on California

The sudden population expansion and exploitation by enterprising businessmen became hallmarks of California history.
The need for order and regulation became clear in this rapidly growing society.