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Questions and Answers
During the Gold Rush, what method did miners use to separate gold from mud and sand?
What was San Francisco's population in 1850 after the Gold Rush started?
What was the purpose of ox-drawn wagons in the gold mines?
How did miners initially search for gold in California's rivers and streams?
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What led to San Francisco becoming the starting place for miners during the Gold Rush?
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Study Notes
The California Gold Rush
- In 1848, James Marshall, a carpenter, discovered gold nuggets in the American River while building a sawmill for John Sutter, changing the course of US history.
James Marshall's Discovery
- Marshall and his crew were building the sawmill on the American River, near present-day Sacramento.
- John Sutter tried to keep the discovery quiet to prevent prospectors from entering his property.
Consequences of the Discovery
- Despite attempts to keep it quiet, the secret got out, and most of Sutter's workers left to search for gold.
- Thousands of prospectors trespassed on Sutter's land, destroying his crops and killing his cattle, leaving him poor and broke.
The Forty Niners
- Within a year, thousands of people from the US and other countries traveled to California to search for gold.
- Prospectors came from Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, China, and Mexico, traveling by boat, horseback, and covered wagons.
- Nearly 100,000 people migrated to California in the first year, seeking to "strike it rich".
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Description
Test your knowledge on the historical event that changed the United States forever - the Gold Rush of 1848. Learn about the discovery of gold in California and its impact on American history.
