Brief Overview
Natalie Barajas , Isabella Bentz, and Melanie Alicea
Thesis statement
After the American-Mexican war, Mexico made a treaty with the U.S. which gave us the state of California.
Shortly after came the California Gold Rush. This was a turning point in history because it increased the U.S. economy, more people began to live in California, and people of all types of ethnic groups became insane with gold.
Historical Context
The life of a forty-niner was not easy. In the early days of 1848 and 1849, it was not uncommon for a miner to dig $2000 worth of gold a day. But the average miner might have been lucky to find $10 worth of gold a day. As time went on, gold was getting harder to find. Although some miners became rich, most others were fortunate to earn enough to eat. The success of finding gold was driving the cost of food up. Most miners earned a profit of less than what was needed for everyday supplies and food. After 1852, most of the surface gold was found, and panning for gold was no longer profitable. Several of the miners died on the difficult journey to reach California. Others died of starvation and thirst. But most died of disease. The forty-niners had to mine in radiation poisoning which caused these diseases.
Thesis statement
After the American-Mexican war, Mexico made a treaty with the U.S. which gave us the state of California.
Shortly after came the California Gold Rush. This was a turning point in history because it increased the U.S. economy, more people began to live in California, and people of all types of ethnic groups became insane with gold.
Historical Context
The life of a forty-niner was not easy. In the early days of 1848 and 1849, it was not uncommon for a miner to dig $2000 worth of gold a day. But the average miner might have been lucky to find $10 worth of gold a day. As time went on, gold was getting harder to find. Although some miners became rich, most others were fortunate to earn enough to eat. The success of finding gold was driving the cost of food up. Most miners earned a profit of less than what was needed for everyday supplies and food. After 1852, most of the surface gold was found, and panning for gold was no longer profitable. Several of the miners died on the difficult journey to reach California. Others died of starvation and thirst. But most died of disease. The forty-niners had to mine in radiation poisoning which caused these diseases.