Oh that fateful day in 1848! Gold fever was running rampant. Men and a few women were coming from all over to strike it rich. Everyone wanted a piece of this pie; the Chinese, French, Spanish, Mexican and many other nationalities came to dig for gold. It was hard and difficult work; and it wasn't long before racism reared it very ugly head. The Chinese, Mexicans, Native Americans and many others suffered horrible injustices, from people who thought that they were stealing their American dream. California was not a safe place. Between 1849 and 1852, a quarter of a million people ( named the forty-niners) inhabited California. Many Native Americans were forced to flee, lest their race become extinct, due to murder and starvation and disease; as increasing numbers of people came in like waves. The gold rush came to an end like most things do and mines were set up, business were built as the hoopla died down. On a good note the gold rush brought in a melting pot of people and that melting pot makes what America is today.


Questions:

1. What nationality was one of the biggest groups to arrive to California?

2. What are your thoughts on the extreme prejudice that many nationalities suffered?