By Elizabeth Forsman Blaikie

California Gold Rush

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Gold Rush January 24, 1948 John

Marshall found gold at Sutter's mill

People migrated from all over the world to California to strike it rich

Mining was difficult for many which sparked many businesses

Chinese The Chinese came to America by

boat across the Pacific Ocean

Many had to work off their ship fair after they arrived

Those that did not mine provided businesses such as barber shops, laundry and general stores

By the end of the 1950s the Chinese made up 1/5 of the population

Chinese were later used as the main work force building the railroad

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How to Pan for Gold

Fill the pan with sediment Look through larger rocks

to make sure there are no nuggets

Place in water Move pan in a circular

motion and allow sediment to fall over the edge

Gold will be left in the bottom of the pan

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Levi StraussStrauss was originally

from BavariaStrauss used tent canvas to create more durable pants for minersStrauss quickly switched to denimThe Strauss family became very successful with their denim pantsLevis are still sold today

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No Gold but lots of Money

There was money to be had for those that were not successful at mining

People would sell supplies- $2 for a pound of sugar

Women would charge $25 for cooking meals and $50 for washing clothes

Elizabeth

Racism Americans disliked the big hats

and chopsticks that the Chinese brought

Foreigners were blamed for Americans struggling to get rich

Immigrants were charged to get a mining license

1852 the state imposed the Foreign Miners Tax that charged $3 a month to mine

Chinese Exclusion Act which did not allow any more “laborers” to immigrate and didn't allow Chinese to become naturalized

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Travelers used covered wagons as a cheaper form of travel and could store more supplies

Most used oxen to pull their wagon because they were stronger and efficient than mules

The journey took between 3 and 7 months and had to leave in early spring to have grass for the animals and not to get caught in the mountains in winter

1949 over 32,000 took the Oregon-California Trail by wagon

Covered Wagon

Brandon