It is easy to see the vestiges of the California Gold Rush in the state’s modern culture. The San Francisco 49ers football team are named after the term given to those who flocked to California in 1849 in search of gold; California is nicknamed “The Golden State;” and the official state motto is “Eureka” meaning “I have found it” in Greek—a reference to mining success. But the Gold Rush was not only a pivotal event with lasting impact in California; it also greatly affected America as a whole and global society.

This book examines the historical significances of the California Gold Rush, beginning with life in California prior to the Gold Rush and European colonization and concluding with information regarding contemporary California. Readers will gain historical insights from the highly detailed explorations of how life in California evolved and understand the enormous impact of an event over 160 years ago on present-day America.

Features

• Contains excerpts from California Gold Rush diaries and California Gold Rush era publications
• Provides a chronology of the events leading up to the Gold Rush, the event itself, and the greater outgrowth of historical change afterwards
• Includes maps distinguishing the location of the mining towns during the California Gold Rush as well as provocative vintage images from the Gold Rush era
• An extensive bibliography provides primary and secondary sources on the Gold Rush
• A comprehensive glossary defines Gold Rush terms