In 1848, gold was discovered in California, sparking the California Gold Rush. Word of the discovery quickly spread, with thousands traveling from around the United States and the world to seek their fortune in the gold fields. While some struck riches, most found only difficult living conditions with long hours of backbreaking work for little pay amid disease and hardship. Though the surface gold was soon depleted, the Gold Rush transformed California and contributed to the wider settlement of the American West.

1. THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH Another reason for White settlers in the USA to move West

2. GOLD!! In January 1848 a group of men building a sawmill in the Sierra foothills discovered gold The men finished the sawmill and started to mine for gold

3. WORD SPREADS San Francisco was the first place to hear of the discovery Word was spread elsewhere by word of mouth, newspapers and guidebooks Thousands travelled to make their fortune

4. THOUSANDS MADE THE JOURNEY People travelled from all over America Some came by boat from New York or Boston Others came overland in wagons All had a hard journey

5. THE IMPACT OF ‘GOLD FEVER’ “Overnight carpenters dropped their hammers, masons their trowels, bakers their loaves, clerks their pens, to rush to the diggings. Schools were closed as both teachers and pupils deserted; shopkeepers hung signs on their doors – ‘Gone to the Diggings’ – and disappeared. By June 15 San Francisco was a ghost town.”

6. BUT… By the time most people arrived the best of the gold had gone Most worked for whole day, doing back-breaking work for less than $5 a day Many didn’t even arrive – 5,000 died on the journey – many from cholera

7. HOW DID THEY GET THE GOLD? Many didn’t have a clue about mining People scraped gold from the stream beds with spoons or knives Others ‘panned’ for gold in wet streams – the gold’s weight keeping it in the pan

8. LIFE IN THE MINING TOWNS Shacks made from blankets and wooden frames Disease was common Hours were long, work was hard Saloons, gambling and prostitution offered solace for some…

9. THE ‘FORTY-NINERS’

10. THE END? By 1852 the surface gold had gone Many miners returned home Those who stayed began to set up permanent towns Big business began to move in Families arrived

11. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? “Where these communities survived, the railroad, the telegraph and the stage-coach followed. In this way the discovery of gold made an important contribution to the settling of the West.”