The Gold Rush

Watch this movie on the Gold Rush to get the answers to your homework. Many men traveled out to California to find gold. They wanted to be rich so bad that they would take the long journey.These men were said to have "Gold Fever", they didn't have a fever, they were just crazy to find gold. Many of these men left for the Gold rush in 1849 to California. They were called the 49ers.




More information on the California Gold Rush

Searching for Gold

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49'er and Mule (Source: Library of Congress) In the early days of 1848 and 1849, it was not uncommon for a miner to dig $2000 of gold a day. But the average miner might have been lucky to find $10 per day. As time went on the easy gold was all found. Although some made it rich, most of the others were lucky if they made enough to eat. After 1852 most of the surface gold was mined, panning for gold was no longer profitable. This picture shows a 49er with his mule and supplies. Thousands of miners died on the journey or in the diggings. Many died from disease, or from accidents such as drowning in a river.

Camping and Housing

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Miners Camping (Source: Library of Congress) Most miners lived in tents and cooked their food over an open fire. Meals were usually beans, bacon or local game cooked over an open fire. Most camps and mining towns were canvas tents or wooden buildings. Fires were very common. Many camps and towns were completely destroyed by fire. Some several times. Heavy rain and snow during the winter months made for very difficult living and mining conditions. Most miners spent the winter in San Francisco or some mining town. Sickness and colds were common from sleeping on cold, damp ground. The food was not very nutritious resulting in generally poor health. Scurvy was common from lack of fruits and vegetables. Sanitation was poor and miners seldom bathed or washed their clothes.

Family and Friends

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Miners Camp in the Evening (Source: Library of Congress) Most miners came by themselves, leaving their families at home. Many young miners suffered from home sickness from being alone. This picture shows a group of travelers setting up camp.Some families did make the trip to California. Many miners formed friendships and communities with other travelers. Card games, gambling and betting were common ways to pass the time.

Click on this link to play a Gold Rush game

http://www.huntington.org/Education/GoldRush/game/index.htm