Essay On California Gold Rush

1645 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The california gold rush dbq

The California Gold Rush of 1849 is one of the most fascinating and thrilling events in the history of the United States. From the amazing stories of people making it big, to the tragic tales of people losing everything are reasons why the Gold Rush is so exciting. There are many phases of the California Gold Rush such as the effects on California, individual stories of struggle, and effects on the United States as a young country looking for stability. But most importantly, California saw many rapid changes that played a huge part in shaping the state into what it is today. From Hollywood to San Francisco, today’s lifestyles in California have been influenced by the Gold Rush. Nevertheless, in a period of civil division and unrest, the gold rush brought about a renewed drive for expansion and entrepreneurship in the U.S. While often criticized for strong immigrant racism, economic corruption, and environmental devastation, this era declared a new chapter in American history and forever set the foundation for the California enterprising spirit.

In the book The Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream, H.W. Brands, digs down through the myths about the Gold Rush and unearths the fascinating stories of the people, immigrants and Americans alike, who caught America's first big burst of gold fever. Among the key individuals was, William T. Sherman, the famous Civil War General, explorer John C. Fremont, the first Presidential nominee of the Republican Party, and Leland Stanford, founder of the University that bears his last name. They all came together at what was truly one of the major American crossroads. H. W. Brands emphasized in his book on how the Gold Rush inspired a new American dream, “t...

... middle of paper ...

...erall, the California Gold Rush was an important discovery that contributed to the development and expansion of the United States. Prior to the Gold Rush, California was a remote and lightly populated area. Nonetheless, the California Gold Rush brought thousands of people across the United States to the West and started a new era where opportunities and dreams developed. In fact, roads, schools and new towns were built throughout California as a result of the gold rush boom. Shortly, railroads were built across the country from California to the eastern part of the United States while agriculture and ranching expanded to meet the needs of the people. Lastly, new technologies were developed and soon the economy in the West took off. In the end, the California gold rush was undoubtedly one of the major events that shaped the western United States as we know it today.

Show More
Related

  • The American West: A Land of Opportunity

    637 Words  | 2 Pages

    The American West was the land of opportunity for many groups of people from 1865 to 1890. For farmers and ranchers, the American west was a land of opportunity due to low cost of land as a result of the Homestead Act and the a chance for Americans, including immigrants and blacks, to achieve the American dream and make a profit by growing crops such as cotton for the thriving textile industry and raising cattle for the upcoming cattle industry. For the miners, the American West was seen as an opportunity to get rich through the gold and silver rush and was even popular in other parts of the world where immigrants responded to the rush as well; although most were not successful. The America West offered opportunities for Americans, both rich and poor, to establish a new life and achieve economic independence.

    Read More

  • Development Of The West Beyond The Mississippi

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    The government participated in a great "push" to get its citizens to move to west. At first few people moved to the west, but this changed when gold was discovered in California in 1848. This caused a "gold rush" to the west coast which consisted of many prospectors seeking to find their fortunes in the gold mines of California. Many traveled to the west coast, however few actually found their fortunes.

    Read More

  • First Transcontinental Railroad In California

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    The construction of railroads in California impacted the state physically, socially, and economically; and ultimately helped propel California into the state it is today. During a time when masses of people were migrating to California but were doing so in an inefficient, and sometimes dangerous way, the first transcontinental railroad provided a fast and easier alternative. During the 1850's and 60's California was booming as many people from across the country uprooted their lives and headed west to begin a new life and attempt to strike it rich. Covered wagons were not an ideal way of travel but were the only way to go until the railroads were constructed.

    Read More

  • Pikes Peak Gold Rush Essay

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    The gold rush not only attracted miners but people in search of new starts, whether that was from love affairs gone wrong, or debts. Some see this rush as a way to make an easy profit or fortune and settle down with new everything. Pikes Peak Gold Rush is one of the most known features in the region. It became a stepping stone that drew as many as 100,000 prospectors. With these prospectors, they brought over the slogan, “Pikes Peak or Bust,” in 1859–60.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny: Western Expansion of America

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    The economy would also blossom during this expansion. First, the Manifest Destiny included extremely inexpensive land for sale in the west. In some cases it was free since it was government land, and they passed things like the Homestead Act to encourage westward settlements. With so many people taking part in horizontal mobility by moving west, it gave the economy a chance to expand commerce. We would do this by building ports and increasing trade with countries in the Pacific. The economy also got a kick when there were gold or silver rushes in the west. These occurred in Denver, Colorado (1859), Virginia City, Nevada (1859), Last Chance Gulch (1861), and in the Black Hills of the Dakotas (1875). All of these sporadic improvements of the economy helped us grow into a big super power.New inspirations entered the art world at this time too. Many artists tried to capture the image of Manifest Destiny by illustrating families traveling west.

    Read More

  • The Lewis And Clark Expedition

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    The exploration of the West could have had the greatest economic impact on the United States ever. After the west had now been explored, they realized they had a great deal of land that now had to be settled. The land was so vast and so cheap that it was sold for very low prices and sometimes just given away. This caused a huge surge of people to begin flowing west and sparked westward expansion. People began setting up farms and more and more people had opportunities to make a good living.

    Read More

  • The Carolina Gold Rush

    2379 Words  | 5 Pages

    What do you think of when you hear the term “Gold Rush”? The 1849 gold rush in California?

    Read More

  • Exploring The Gilded Age

    1642 Words  | 4 Pages

    Post Civil War, America was looking for new opportunities to become a stronger and more efficient nation. Though reconstruction collapsed, they took the opportunity of the Manifest Destiny to gain the territories of the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War and settle the west. With this expansion, it provided numerous opportunities for the people to gain success alongside the nation. The gold rush caused an increase in immigration that brought more people to the newly flourishing nation, and allowed the west coast to become settled as well as help the economy from the new wealth. The land that was gained in the Louisiana Purchase provided the Great Plains, where pioneers settled and ranching operations were run. Though it sadly pushed away the native tribes who originally lived there, throughout the gilded age the government has tried to return to them their land and rights – and gives them reparations today. All of which provided a basis to the American dream that gave the opportunity for a better life to many people. Towns and economy was...

    Read More

  • The Foreign Miners in the American Gold Rush

    3642 Words  | 8 Pages

    Sylva, Seville A. A Thesis-Foreigners in the California Gold Rush. California: University of Southern California. 1932.

    Read More

  • The Klondike Gold Rush

    1218 Words  | 3 Pages

    How would feel to be a multimillionaire in just a couple years, but you have to get the Klondike in Alaska. Many people took this challenge either making their fortune or coming up more broke than they already were. The Klondike Gold Rush played a major role in shaping peoples lives and a time in American history. My paper consists of 3 main topics: first, what people had to go through to get there; second, the harsh conditions they had to endure when they got there; and lastly, the striking at rich part or if at all they did get rich.

    Read More

  • The California Gold Rush

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is the period of the Gold Rush. Reasons why this event was so impeccable, to the development of California, are the years leading up to the discovery, the first findings, the journey, and so much more. Americans, inspired by the idea of manifest destiny meaning it was their God given right to rule the entire, mass, amount of land from ocean to ocean. Thanks to this vision, it quickly sent current land occupiers, California, Mexico, and the United States in two completely different directions. In 1846, Mexican soldiers rose up against United States forces.

    Read More

  • The California Gold Rush in 1849

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    The California Gold Rush in 1849 was the catalyst event for the state that earned them a spot in the U.S. union in 1850. This was not the first gold rush in North America; however, it was one of the most important gold rush events. The story of how the gold was discovered and the stories of the 49ers are well known. Men leaving their families in the East and heading West in hopes of striking it rich are the stories that most of us heard about when we learn about the California Gold Rush. Professors and scholars over the last two decades from various fields of study have taken a deeper look into the Gold Rush phenomena. When California joined the Union in 1850 it helped the U.S. expand westward just as most Americans had intended to do. The event of the Gold Rush can be viewed as important because it led to a national railroad. It also provided the correct circumstances for successful entrepreneurship, capitalism, and the development modern industrialization. The event also had a major influence on agriculture, economics, and politics.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Gold Rush

    660 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Gold Rush was a time when many people in United States rushed west in hopes of discovering gold. This attracted thousands of people from all around America. Women played a key role in the Gold Rush. They had lots of jobs when it came to migrating west.

    Read More

  • Women During the Gold Rush

    3115 Words  | 7 Pages

    The Gold Rush was one of the most influential times in California History. During the four years from 1848-1852, 400,000 new people flooded into the state. People from many countries and social classes moved to California, and many of them settled in San Francisco. All this diversity in one place created a very interesting dynamic. California during the Gold Rush, was a place of colliding ideals. The 49ers came from a very structured kind of life to a place where one was free to make up her own rules.

    Read More

  • California and The American Dream

    1237 Words  | 3 Pages

    California started its statehood unlike any other state before or after it succession. California entered the nation as a free state in 1950, during the time of the Gold Rush. From the Gold Rush came the term “California Dream” which is the “psychological motivation to gain fast wealth or fame in a new land” (Manhattan-Institute.org). From the time of the Gold Rush up until recent years, California has been associated with obtaining fast wealth and fame. This encouraged people from all over the world to come to California in hopes of striking it rich, just as people continued to do up until the 90's. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 immensely accelerated certain changes that had been in the making for decades. For instance, California was already filled with different races and cultures, but when the Gold Rush struck, California became an international frontier where people from every continent were joining together. “California also set an important precedent for civil societies with diverse populations” (page 121). By 1850, California was flooded with over 300,000 people seeking gold. The fact that California has always attracted so many different people has created a land filled with many languages, cultures, and social customs. “The arrival and departure of thousan...

    Read More

More about Essay On California Gold Rush

Open Document