Nothing Golden About the California Gold Rush
“...the streets hip-deep in mud; the river steamboat races that killed scores when overheated boilers exploded; the rough justice of vigilantism, lynchings, and ear-clippings; the riots, fires, and floods; the cities crowded with thousands of men, among whom could be found only a few women, many of them prostitutes.” (Holliday 12) When James Marshall found gold in California, he wanted to keep it a secret. Eventually, with help from Samuel Brennan, the new spread to the east coast, and everyone wanted a part of the untold riches lying in California. Families gathered up their clothes, food, and other supplies and hit the trail, hoping to strike it rich. Challenges individuals faced during the California gold rush included the journey, crime, and the poor living conditions. …show more content…
In the text, it says "quantities of bacon, flour, salt, beans, coffee, sugar, tools of every description ... gold washers and cooking stoves ... dry goods, law books, and a little of everything else." (Cherne 12). When the gold rush started, inexperienced pioneers didn’t know what to bring and because of that, overpacked. They would throw excess supplies onto the trail. The 49ers had to find the perfect combination of supplies, clothing, and food, or risk wearing out their animals or starvation. In the text, it says “Carcasses of cattle, mules, and oxen lined the way. The smell was frightful. Some pioneers turned back.” (Cherne 12) The dead animals, could cause disease, and along with rotten food, smelled terrible. Starvation was another challenge for the 49ers. “According to estimates, half of those who crossed the desert in 1850 faced starvation.” (Cherne 12) If a person ran out of supplies, they had to fend for themselves, since everyone was more concerned about their own well-being. If a person got to California, and claimed their land, they then had to worry about
“...the streets hip-deep in mud; the river steamboat races that killed scores when overheated boilers exploded; the rough justice of vigilantism, lynchings, and ear-clippings; the riots, fires, and floods; the cities crowded with thousands of men, among whom could be found only a few women, many of them prostitutes.” (Holliday 12) When James Marshall found gold in California, he wanted to keep it a secret. Eventually, with help from Samuel Brennan, the new spread to the east coast, and everyone wanted a part of the untold riches lying in California. Families gathered up their clothes, food, and other supplies and hit the trail, hoping to strike it rich. Challenges individuals faced during the California gold rush included the journey, crime, and the poor living conditions. …show more content…
In the text, it says "quantities of bacon, flour, salt, beans, coffee, sugar, tools of every description ... gold washers and cooking stoves ... dry goods, law books, and a little of everything else." (Cherne 12). When the gold rush started, inexperienced pioneers didn’t know what to bring and because of that, overpacked. They would throw excess supplies onto the trail. The 49ers had to find the perfect combination of supplies, clothing, and food, or risk wearing out their animals or starvation. In the text, it says “Carcasses of cattle, mules, and oxen lined the way. The smell was frightful. Some pioneers turned back.” (Cherne 12) The dead animals, could cause disease, and along with rotten food, smelled terrible. Starvation was another challenge for the 49ers. “According to estimates, half of those who crossed the desert in 1850 faced starvation.” (Cherne 12) If a person ran out of supplies, they had to fend for themselves, since everyone was more concerned about their own well-being. If a person got to California, and claimed their land, they then had to worry about