California Gold Rush

Many forty-niners planned to make a quick fortune. What is a fortune?

• a large trip

• a large sum of money

• a large mine

• a large business

What was the biggest difference in the world in 1848 from the world today?

• People are no longer interested in gold.

• In 1848, California was a land of plenty where everyone could make a living.

• In 1848, there were no roads or railroads connecting California to the other states.

• In 1848, more people lived in California than they do now

Which of the following words best describes Sam Brannan?

• thoughtful and helpful

• greedy and dangerous

• brave and strong

• crafty and clever

All people needed to mine gold was

• a horse and wagon

• good eyesight

• a shovel and a flat pan

• a group of strong men

Which of the following events happened in January 1848?

• The first gold was found in California

• Many people started moving out West.

• The first ship from China landed in California.

• California became a state.

What conclusion can you draw about the California gold rush?

• The gold rush forever changed the American West.

• The gold rush was more important to South America than to the United States.

• The gold rush helped make most people in the United States rich.

• The gold rush should have been kept a secret.

Who were the forty-niners?

• A group of workers who refused to be treated badly at the mills.

• A group of people who decided to leave California because they did not find gold.

• A group of people who came from other countries to mine gold.

• A group of many people who joined the gold rush in one year.

Why did life not get easier once people made it to California?

• People worked long hours and got very sick.

• People had to face deadly snakes and bugs.

• People could not find Sutter's Mill.

• People found out that there was no gold.

How did Levi Strauss make money during the gold rush?

• He sold shovels to miners.

• He sold blue jeans to miners.

• He owned a mill where lots of gold was found.

• He stole gold from the other miners.

Erosion causes

• Prices of everyday items to go up

• Gold to be more difficult to find

• Rocks and soil to wash away

• People to travel to California