I really need specific causes, because all my opinions happen to be wrong...also, would you give your opinions about what does it say about human nature?
thanks.
2007-11-12 14:16:10 · 3 answers · asked by Zizu 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The California Gold Rush was caused by gold being found at Sutter's Creek in 1848. It took awhile to reach the newspapers back in the east and when it did, most of the reports were greatly exaggerated. Was there gold in the streams, rivers and hills of California? You bet there was. Was there enough to make everyone rich? No.
The truth of the matter is that it was very expensive to get out west to prospect for gold. If you lived east of the Mississippi you had to travel toward the Atlantic coast and book a ship heading to Panama. Once there you traversed the isthmus and cought another ship heading to San Fran.
That's where the expense hit. Everything you needed for prospecting was inflated greatly (tools, land, housing, food, alcohol, etc.).
Here's the kicker, many Americans spent their life saving looking for the gold....only to find out that there wasn't much in California. Most of the 49ers ended up in worse financial shape then when they arrived.
So, why would people risk the journey and hard work to find gold. Pure American greed. It was an easy way to get rich quick.
2007-11-12 15:00:09 · answer #1 · answered by Downriver Dave 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gold being discovered at Sutters Mill in California in 1849. The people who went there in droves were called 49ers. They would go there to try to strike it rich. Jobs at that time paid very little and People then were like people today to try to win the Lotteries!!!!!
2007-11-12 14:48:02 · answer #2 · answered by Ed P 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
love
2016-02-02 10:20:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋