John Sutter
On January 24,1848 James Marshall saw something on the ground and discovered it was gold. He went to Sutter and they agreed to keep it a secret. They had Indians digging their gold for them. They were getting very rich. Somehow the news spread. Soon there were lots of people mining in the streams and hillsides looking for gold.
The news that gold was discovered in California spread across the country. A lot of people started packing and heading to California. It was very rough on the children having to walk so much. The horses had to carry lots of weight on their backs. Some people took wagons, some walked, and some rode.
When they had to camp out they sang songs about going to California. Soon they reached California. They got straight to work. Some people went in the hills and others went to the river. It was very hard work.
The Gold Rush changed California. The Gold Rush helped California become a state in 1850. Also, it was better because they could elect a Governor of their choice.
However, the Gold Rush effected the Native Americans of California because they were moved off their land and it probably hurt them as much as the missions hurt their ancestors.
That is my brief history of the gold rush.
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John Sutter |