The California Gold Rush Quiz

In what year did John Sutter start building a sawmill that led to the discovery of gold?

• 1848

• 1849

• 1799

• 1850

What is the nickname given to prospectors in California during the gold rush?

• Gold Diggers

• 49ers

• Miners

• Prospectors

What is fool's gold also known as?

• Quartz

• Silver

• Copper

• Pyrite

Which city's population grew from 150 to 6,000 people in 1849?

• Los Angeles

• San Diego

• Sacramento

• San Francisco

What was the primary method used by prospectors to find gold in streams?

• Explosives

• Panning for gold

• Using metal detectors

• Digging tunnels

Who became very wealthy by selling denim pants during the gold rush?

• Daniel Murphy

• James Marshall

• Levi Strauss

• John Sutter

What year did a young boy find a 17-pound gold nugget in North Carolina, leading to a gold rush there?

• 1849

• 1799

• 1848

• 1850

Which trail was NOT used by prospectors traveling to California by land?

• Santa Fe Trail

• Appalachian Trail

• California Trail

• Oregon Trail

What was a major risk for prospectors traveling through the jungles of Panama?

• Malaria or Yellow Fever

• Snowstorms

• Mountain Lions

• Desert Heat

What did miners use to break rocks when digging for gold?

• Hammers

• Shovels

• Dynamite

• Pickaxes