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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, was an important agreement that ended the Mexican-American War. As a result of this treaty, the United States acquired a large area of land known as the Mexican Cession. This included the present-day state of California, among other territories.

At that time, around 10,000 Californios, who were Mexican residents of California, lived in this region. These Californios had a rich cultural heritage and many were involved in agriculture and ranching. Additionally, there were a small number of wealthy families who owned most of the land in California, often controlling vast ranches.

Following the treaty, many people from the eastern United States started to move to California. This migration was partly influenced by the Gold Rush, which began in 1849, when gold was discovered in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The promise of wealth and new opportunities attracted thousands, transforming California's population and economy.

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In January 1848, a man named John Sutter, who owned a lot of land in California, asked a carpenter named James Marshall to help him build a sawmill. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into lumber, which can be used to make houses and furniture. They built the sawmill near the American River, close to a city called Sacramento.

One morning, while James Marshall was working, he noticed something shiny in a ditch. It was a small gold nugget! A nugget is a piece of gold that has been found in nature. James was very excited, but he wanted to keep his discovery a secret at first because he knew that if others found out, many people would come rushing to find gold too.

However, news of the gold nugget couldn’t be kept quiet for long. Soon, people all over California heard about it. The excitement spread like wildfire, and many people left their jobs, homes, and daily activities to rush to the gold fields. They hoped to find gold and become rich. This event started the California Gold Rush, which changed the state and brought many new people to California!

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Discovering Gold

1848

Along American River

James Marshall found gold while building a sawmill for John Sutter.

James Marshall

Discovered gold in the American River.

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In 1849, a huge adventure was happening in California called the Gold Rush. People from all over the world were rushing to find gold, and by this time, tens of thousands of them had arrived! About two-thirds of these gold-seekers were from the United States, but many traveled from faraway places like China and Australia.

These miners were called “Forty-Niners” because most of them arrived in 1849. Most of the Forty-Niners were young men, excited to strike it rich by finding gold. But some really smart people didn’t just look for gold; they decided to start businesses to help the miners, like selling food, tools, and clothes.

Many of these brave adventurers traveled along a famous path called the California Trail, which was a long journey filled with challenges. They faced rough weather, rivers to cross, and sometimes even dangerous animals. But the hope of finding gold kept them going! The Gold Rush changed California forever, turning it into a place where dreams could come true.

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The Gold Rush

1849

Tens of thousands of gold seekers rushed to California from all over the world hoping to strike it rich.

49’ers

People who joined the rush for gold in California in 1849.

1803�The Louisiana Purchase was made by President Thomas Jefferson. Doubled the size of the United States and expanded the US west of the Mississippi River.

1830�Congress passed the Indian Removal Act to allow the President to make treaties with American Indians tribes. This was used to push Indians off of their lands onto reservations.

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1849

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1811�Tecumseh united Native tribes to resist white settlers. Was given weapons from Great Britain for battles on the frontier like the Battle of Tippecanoe.

1812�The United States and Great Britain fought the War of 1812. Some Native Americans fought with the British hoping to stop white settlement, while others fought with the US.

California Gold Rush

Once done please complete this Exit Ticket on your own to show what we learned.

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Video Links

Gold Rush PBS America:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r03DKbVhfvU

America Story of Us: Gold Rush

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDkqvqqjMAA

Gold Rush: American River

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4LnyBA6AnA

The History of The California Gold Rush

https://youtu.be/Cr1BaWxA1rk

The California Gold rush

https://youtu.be/MbYgFt7VsJk?feature=shared

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Reference

1. PBS America. (n.d.). Gold Rush. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r03DKbVhfvU

2. History Channel. (n.d.). America: Story of Us: Gold Rush. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDkqvqqjMAA

3. American River. (n.d.). Gold Rush: American River. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4LnyBA6AnA

4. History Media. (n.d.). The History of The California Gold Rush. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Cr1BaWxA1rk

5. History Channel. (n.d.). The California Gold Rush. YouTube. https://youtu.be/MbYgFt7VsJk?feature=shared

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