0017 From the Gold Rush to the Present (SMR 3.2) Flashcards
Why was the delay of the discovery of gold important?
the finding of gold in CA happened just days before the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the delay of the news of the discovery of gold was important to the passing of the treaty, the people who discovered it wanted to keep it a secret for their own gain.
What are the two major results of the gold rush in CA?
The major result of the gold rush is a population increase and secondary to that, the gold rush helped expedite CA transforming from a US territory to a state in 1850
Where was gold first discovered on January 24, 1848?
Sutter’s Mill
How did the discovery of gold impact migration to CA?
Forty-niners: poor settlers that packed up everything they had and came to discover gold, 100,000 arrive between 1848 and 1852
Who were the Forty-Niners?
These are individuals, many of whom gave up life savings to come.
Some are succesful and start their own businesses, others are not and flock to cities to get involved in service industries
How were Californios and Native Americans impacted by the Gold Rush?
Early miners (Indians and Californios) are forced off the land
What were some of the issues that CA experienced during the Gold Rush?
Lawlessness and exploitation were rampant, massive population and no govt to regulate over it
What important act did CA State Legislature pass in 1850?
California State Legislature passed a foreign miner tax after 1850, anyone who was not a Californian had to pay an extra tax, and this tax was used to build infrastructure, cities and counties to be able to administer law and order
Which industries would pop up in CA that would become more lucrative than mining?
Support industries (merchants) also poured in; more lucrative than mining for gold, one of the more famous kind of merchants that would come later is Levi Strauss who would create denim as a work pant
What invention occurred in 1853 that would change mining in CA?
Invention of hydraulic mining is discovered which forced individual miners to work for large companies because only big companies have the $$ to run the hydraulics
How would the Gold Rush impact the population in CA?
Population increased by 2000% went from 15,000 non-native americans in 1848 to 380,000 by early 1850’s
Where were the gold fields located?
The gold fields of CA were situated along the mountains because that is where you find valuable metal.
What else was found in the mining process and what was significant about this?
They not only found gold but silver, copper and tin which become important to the economy of CA for later industries like the completion of Transcontinental railroad (Copper will be important for the creation of steel)
What would lead to more migration, both domestic and international to CA in the 19th Century?
The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869
What importance did the Transcontinental Railroad have to CA?
Important early effort in increasing economic and social importance of CA, brings a greater influx of population to CA and makes it an economic center
It was facilitated by the flow of wealth that occurred after the gold rush
Who were the Big Four?
Leland Stanford
Collis Potter Huntington
Mark Hopkins
Charles Crocker
“The Big Four” were the four men who rallied for the completion of the western part of the Transcontinental Railroad
Who was Leland Stanford and what part did he play in creating the Transcontinental Railroad?
Stanford was president of Central Pacific Railroad until 1890 and was CA governor from 1861-1863 and was instrumental in gaining CA state funding from the railroad
What was Charles Crocker in charge of for the railroad?
Construction
What was Mark Hopkin’s role in the Transcontinental Railroad?
Hopkins was the treasurer, was a money man known for his thriftineess, known to squeeze 106 cents out of every dollar and used Chinese and Mexican laborers to complete the railroad
What was Huntington’s role in the Transcontinental Railroad?
Huntington was the developer. He acquired the important major interstate lines. He took existing railroads and used them to connect different areas of the state to the Transcontinental railroad. Became a real estate effort
The completion of the railroad culminated with the driving of the _______ at the __________ in Utah
Golden Spike / Promonty Summit
What brought about Chinese Immigration in CA?
Initially arrived during the gold rush and to help build railroads (they were inexpensive labor)
This was followed by a steadily increased flow during the late 1800’s
What port of entry did Chinese immigrants come to when they arrived in CA?
Angel Island
What acts showed an anti-chinese hostility in CA? Who led this hostility?
Labor unions led anti-chinese hostility
Culminated in Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 and anti-miscegenation laws that prevented chinese from marrying white people
What was the only US immigration law to prevent immigration and naturalization based on race?
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
What arose in response to the anti-chinese acts?
The Chinese Benevolent Societies that popped up in Chinese communities and showed nepotism present in Chinatowns
An example of nepotism in Chinese Benevolent Societies were not allowing non-chinese to take part in martial arts until Bruce Lee famously started a school in 1960’s and allowed white people to join
Why was immigration to CA easier for Japanese people than for Chinese people?
Had it a little easier than Chinese Americans because they were imported for labor in Hawaii before it was a state and because they were integral for communication between Commodore Perry and the Empire of Japan resulting in opening of Japanese ports for US trade with the Treaty of Kanagawa
Why were Japanese people able to immigrate from Hawaii?
Immigrated upon Hawaii becoming a territory in 1898
What was the 1907 Gentlemen’s Agreement?
Limited emigration of unskilled Japanese workers to the United States
Japanese govt agreed to not issue passports to Japanese Immigrants who wished to come to US. In return, US accepted presence of Japanese immigrants already residing in America.
Permitted immigration of families of Japanese immigrants already residing in the US and promised to avoid legal discrimination against Japanese children in CA schools (one of the reasons that SF has a long history of religious tolerance within its school system)
What three events took place that boosted Mexican Immigration?
- 75,000 Mexicans were admitted to CA with signing of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
- Simultaneous growth of industries and the exclusion of Asian immigrants led to demand for Mexican immigrants for labor purposes
- Political turmoil in early 20th Century during Mexican Revolution which led to Mexicans coming to America for asylum
What occurred as a result of the 1902 National Reclamation Act?
Encouraged irrigation of arid land and created new farmland in Western states which drew Mexican farm workers northward, many would later become American citizens
