Routes to the Gold Fields. On January 28, 1848 James Marshall discovers gold at John Sutters mill in...
-
Upload
richard-weight -
Category
Documents
-
view
213 -
download
0
Transcript of Routes to the Gold Fields. On January 28, 1848 James Marshall discovers gold at John Sutters mill in...
Routes to Routes to the the
Gold FieldsGold Fields
On January 28, 1848 James Marshall discovers gold at John Sutter’s mill in Coloma.
Gold! Gold from the American River!
May 1848—When news of the gold discovery and samples of gold reached San Francisco and other
towns in California, people headed to the mountains.Challenge #1: If gold was discovered in January,
why did it take so long for news to spread?
Challenge #2: What countries did the Argonauts come from?
From where did they come?
China
Australia
Germany
British Isles
France
Peru
Chile
Mexico
Eastern United States
Oregon Territo
ry
How shall we travel?
Three main routes: Cape Horn Isthmus of Panama Overland
Sea Route—Cape Horn
Argonauts traveled by ship south along the Atlantic coast of the United States,
The ship then sailed north along the Pacific coast to San Francisco Bay where the passengers would disembark.
around the southern tip of South America (Cape Horn) and then into the Pacific Ocean.
Challenge #3: What dangers did the Argonauts face traveling by sea along the Cape Horn route to
California?
Took 5 to 8 months
Sea Route—Cape Horn
Journey of 18,000 nautical miles
Dangers—Overcrowding Challenge #4: Why would over-selling passage on
a ship be dangerous?
Dangers—Disease
Scurvy
Cholera
Dangers—Cape Horn
Courtesy of National Maritime Museum, London
By Land and Sea—Isthmus of Panama
Argonauts that wanted a faster route would sail to the Isthmus of Panama and the port town of Chagres.
Chagres
From there they traveled by small boat up the Chagres River and then rode mules through the jungle to the other side of the isthmus.
Once they arrived in Panama City Argonauts had to wait for a ship to sail them up the Pacific coast to San Francisco Bay.
By Land and Sea—Isthmus of Panama
By 1850 the journey took only 6 to 8 weeks.Challenge #5: What dangers did the Argonauts face during their journey across the Isthmus of Panama?
Yellow Fever
Malaria
Dangers—Disease
Land Route
Council Bluffs
St. Joseph
Independence
Fort Bridger
Sacramento
Mormon TrailOregon Trail
California
Trail
Salt Lake City
Fort Hall
Oxen, Mules or Horses?
Challenge #6: What dangers did the Argonauts meet along the overland trail?
Dangers—mountains and rivers
Dangers—Accidents
Dangers—Disease
Asiatic Cholera:Caused by infected drinking
water
The Gold Fields!
Challenge #7: What challenges did this sudden increase in population bring to California’s
economy and government?