California Gold Rush Quiz

Who discovered gold in California in 1848?

• John Sutter

• George Washington

• James W. Marshall

• President James K. Polk

What was the population of California before the Gold Rush?

• 80,000

• 30,000

• 150,000

• 250,000

What was the percentage of women in California's population during the Gold Rush?

• 10%

• 20%

• 15%

• 5%

Which route to California involved both sea and overland travel?

• The Transcontinental Railroad

• The Panama Shortcut

• The Cape Horn Route

• The Oregon-California Trail

What was the system for managing property rights through the staking of claims called?

• Miners' Code

• Gold Rush Law

• Claim Ownership Act

• Property Rights Regulation

What was the main challenge faced by travelers on the Cape Horn route?

• Bandits

• Hostile American Indians

• Illness and poor nutrition

• Shipwrecks

What was the impact of the Gold Rush on California's Native American population?

• Cultural revival

• Peace and harmony

• Disease and population decline

• Prosperity and wealth

What was the peak year for the Gold Rush in terms of gold extraction?

• 1850

• 1852

• 1848

• 1855