California Gold Rush Diary Analysis

Decent Essays
Walton Colton’s California Gold Rush Diary, 1849-1850 is important to the understanding of the American past. This excerpt provides insight into the social, political, and economical change that formed over the course of the Gold Rush. It is important because it shows the powerful effect the Gold Rush had on Americans during this time. The rumors of the Gold Rush spread throughout the country which intrigued people of a new life and the riches it inquired. Americans from all over migrated to California in hopes for a new life of financial security. Colton describes in his diary as “The excitement produced was intense ; and many were soon busy in their hasty preparations for a departure to the mines. The family who had kept house for me caught

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