California Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush was the 1848-1858 gold rush, a type of mass hysteria, sparked by the discovery of gold near Sacramento, California. The period is marked by mass migrations into Northern California, almost exclusively men seeking an easy fortune. Most, however, barely found enough gold to pay for daily expenses. Nevertheless, it was among the most important eras of migration in American history, and led to statehood for California.

Background

California had been part of Mexico since its independence from the Spanish Empire. Sparsely settled by Native Americans and Spanish missionaries, the only significant white settlement was in the San Francisco Bay region. In 1846 the area, known as Alta California, revolted from Mexican rule and formed the Bear Flag Republic, just as the Mexican War was breaking out between Mexico and the United States over the annexation of Texas. The Californians supported the US, and as the war concluded Mexico ceded the territory, which would become the Southwestern US, under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed February 2, 1848. Due to the limited population, California was placed under military government, with an uncertain legal status.

Related Topics:
Mexico - Spanish Empire - Native Americans - Missionaries - San Francisco Bay - 1846 - Alta California - Bear Flag Republic - Mexican War - Texas - Southwest - Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - February 2 - 1848

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Among the settlers in the region was a German/Swiss immigrant, John Sutter, who owned thousands of acres around the Sacramento and American Rivers, which he hoped to develop into a utopian farming settlement named "Nuevo Helvetia" (Spanish for "New Switzerland"); its main compound was known as Sutter's Fort. The site was already a destination for immigrants, including the Donner Party. Sutter hired a carpenter from New Jersey, James Marshall, a veteran of the Bear Flag revolt who lost his farm during the war, to build him a sawmill up the American River, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was here, at Sutter's Mill, that the Gold Rush was triggered.

Related Topics:
German - Swiss - John Sutter - Sacramento - American River - Utopian - Spanish - Sutter's Fort - Donner Party - Carpenter - New Jersey - James Marshall - Sawmill - Foothills - Sierra Nevada - Sutter's Mill

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~