10 The 1849 Gold Rush In 1848 gold

10 The 1849 Gold Rush In 1848, gold was discovered in West, mainly in California News spread across like wildfire and from 1849 huge numbers of miners descended on California, using the new California trail. The discovery of Gold in the foothills of California's Sierra Nevada mountains was a huge factor for westward migration The California Trail used the Oregon trail then split off south towards California and San Francisco Consequences of the Gold Rush Thousands came from all over the world including over 25, 000 Chinese miners who sailed from Hong Kong. These ‘Forty Niners’ came for the chance to make it rich and for a new start in cities like San Francisco. As a result, California's population grew from 15, 000 in 1848 to 300, 000 by 1855. Mining Towns grew like Virginia City As the population grew, more people moved West to become shopkeepers, bartenders and tradesmen selling mining equipment and essentials. However, most migrants did not find gold and either left or settled as farmers. 1. Farming in California developed due to the excellent condition for growing fruits like oranges 2. California, it soon began to export crops all over the world Many became rich and the Gold helped the US recover from the economic crisis as a result of the 1837 Depression. It even helped pay for the first Transcontinenta l Railroad in 1869. The Gold Rush attracted Crooks, bandits, gamblers and outlaws who migrated West to lived in all male communities which were full with violence, alcoholism and prostitution. Racism towards Chinese immigrants was a serious problem or ‘claim jumping’ where miners would steal other miners claims to land. As mining towns were isolated from other communities keeping law and order was hard and law enforcement struggled. To improve law and order, Miners Courts were set up to settle disputes between miners. Exam Question 1. Write an analytical narrative account of the Gold Rush of 1848 -49 (8 Marks) 2. Explain two consequences of the Gold Rush 1848 -9 (8 Marks)