The California Gold Rush, and The Westward Expansion

Have you ever heard of the California Gold Rush, and the Westward Expansion? Well in this story you will learn about it. Also, in this story you will learn about what tools that were used in the Gold Rush. Last but not least you will learn about why men left their families to go to the Gold Rush.

Did you know in the Gold Rush they used tools to get the gold out of the ground. Some tools are the longtom, pans. For the early gold-focused miners of 1849, gold panning was used. The long tom was used when there was a lot of gold. This is how the long tom is used they put it in the ground and they pulled a rope for the gold to go up it. This is how panning was used, they get a pan and put it in the water and if you get lucky gold will be on your pan. I think what a fun way to get gold this would be. They also used fishing to get gold, by getting a fishing rope and you try to fish for gold.

Secondly, In 1848 when the Gold Rush started, some men left their families to go to the California Gold Rush to make some money for the family and food for the kids. A lot of families where poor and had no money. Some people in California where super poor so they robbed stores and shops. I think about how hard their lives must of been then.

Lastly, did you know that the people who left their homes in search of gold were later referred to as the “Forty-Niners,” simply because the year was 1849. Although the exact numbers are unknown, it’s believed that around 300,000 people migrated to California during the Gold Rush. The Forty Niners were all in a group together.

In Conclusion, the California Gold Rush was a major factor in the expansion west of the Mississippi. From the tools that were used in the Gold Rush and how families had to separate from each other for long periods of time. The Westward Expansion was greatly aided by the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, and passage of the Homestead Act in 1862. The final question remains, was the Gold Rush beneficial or detrimental to the United States and California? On the other hand, the Gold Rush inspired men to abandon their normal lives and rush to California. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives when it comes to the Gold Rush.

Bibliography

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