The Gold Rush Era - Research Paper Example

The Gold Rush Era Table of Contents Introduction 2 Thesis Statement 2 Discussion 2 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 8 Introduction The Gold Rush of California began in the year 1848 and continued until 1855. The Gold Rush started from January 24, 1848 after James W. Marshall found Gold in Columbia. After Gold was found in California, many people got attracted towards it within United States and abroad. Due to discovery of Gold in California population grew from 200 to 36,000 in a few years and it became a highly populated state in United States. With the Gold Rush California got developed in many ways. The means of transport also increased because the government was forced to introduce railways and upgrade roadways for such a high populated state. Due to Gold Rush there were many positive effects in California and in the year 1852 this city developed and there were churches and schools built everywhere. This research essay deals with the positive impact of Gold Rush in California. Thesis Statement “Gold Rush had a positive impact in the state of California” Discussion Gold Rush in California had a very significant impact in the life of people and the city in the era of 1848-1855. California before 1848 was a small city with less count of citizens. After Gold was found in this city, it became the center of attraction for many people. California not only traded Gold in United States but it also traded Gold in rest part of the world after 18501. “Due to heavy Gold mining there were requirements towards transportations so government had to build railways and roadways were also improved so that there could be optimum trading of Gold to and from California”. In addition to this, heavy gold mining helped other types of businesses in the United States to gain positive business growth rate. “Most importantly, gold rush actually helped the economy of United States to gain a positive growth rate”. The Gold Rush undoubtedly led to development in the city by improving the society. The Gold Rush began near Coloma at Sutter’s Mill after tests were conducted on a shiny metal found there. The tests confirmed that the shiny metal was gold. This news was then published all over the world which led to development of California. “Gold was first discovered in North California on a huge scale. Later on Gold was also discovered in South California in a smaller scale2”. The first discovery was made in Rancho San Francisco. Now-a-days, this place is popularly known as Los Angeles. Foundation of Gold in California let people diverse from agriculture and fishing to gold mining. California became a place where there were lots of options available for money making because of its in-flux of huge population. The state was developing rapidly due to Gold Rush. The state was also extended so that people could get proper shelter in California3. “Due to Gold Rush people immigrated from different part of world to California”. It actually helped the gold mining industry as well as other industry. “Several industries in California understood the potentiality of business opportunities due to the emergence of gold mining industry”. This gold rush attracted several immigrants to get employed in several industries. It actually helped the economy of the state as well as the country to score a positive economic growth rate due to high availability of competent human resources. “Not only males, women also came to California in order to get opportunities for income because of Gold Rush. California was developing its agriculture base, industrial base, shipping docks and education sector because of Gold Rush”. This was a kind of revolution that happened in the city and economy of California rose to a great level. In later time Gold mining became one of the important businesses in California. Gold was extracted from hard-rocks; typically quartz. “Several advanced technological processes and unique methods were introduced for better mining of gold”. “Gold containing rocks were brought to surface and crushed so that there could be maximum extraction of gold with less wastage”. Because of implementation of these types of techniques there were huge requirement of labors and mechanisms. “Many people got employed in the gold mining sector and for manufacturing of technically advanced machines many people got posted to industries that could produce such machines4”. This made life easy for the people of California and because of such kind of implementations the economy grew higher. “Apart from economy of California, there was development in the educational sector as well. There were many schools inaugurated during this period so that children could learn and be a part of a cultural and knowledge-based society”. California grew rich in terms of culture and ethics. Initially during the Gold Rush there was lack of proper administration in the society but later on there was proper implementation of law and order and cultural and ethical values also emerged. Gold Rush helped people of California to develop their thinking, their income and which finally led to development of a prosperous society. “A society cannot develop without proper employment opportunity, transportation opportunities, and standard life-style and education opportunities”. This gold rush helped the citizens of California as well as entire United States to maintain a sustainable living style. Therefore, it can be stated that, these are some of the important traits that are very significant for the development of California. There are some other factors that were affected because of foundation of gold. “By 1855, economic state had changed completely as the owners of gold mines made substantial profits however other businessmen were also profited like the owners of shipping and owners of transportations also made huge profit because of high population in California5”. Women also made profits by food products, sewing, boarding houses and laundry. “Each and every citizen in California was earning huge sum of money because of the foundation and extraction of gold in the city6”. Apart from Gold extraction other business were running in a fruitful manner. “In the mid of 1850 and year of 1860 the wide variety of conventional business was more successful compared to gold mining”. Hence Gold Rush made it possible for merchants and citizens of California to earn money in a prosperous manner compared to other states of the U.S. In the year 1851 Gold was used for all kinds of purposes like buying food, gambling and alcohols. It was also used for travelling purposes and for entertainment purposes in California. In this period an amount of about US $80 million price of gold of California was sent to France by merchants and prospectors of France, this shows that California was valued globally for its gold. “After this period the mode of transactions changed in the later part of 1850”. During that period local banks and gold dealers also issued banknotes and drafts which were locally accepted paper currencies. These currencies were exchanged against gold. “California economy grew drastically with gold mining in California by many ways thanks to the aspect of gold rush”. The above information and evidences throw enough light on how California’s economy got profited due to Gold rush. California was previously a small local town which grew up to become one of the most developed states with rise in culture and other developments as well. “Slowly and gradually, the emergence of gold mining industry influenced several business organizations within different industries to select California as major business hub due to high prosperity of gold rush”. Several business organizations started to get important and valuable business operation resources that were necessary in the business operation activities. These helped California to become one of the important cities in the United States. Moreover, the prosperity of Gold Rush made it possible. “During the Gold Rush in California there were certain mishaps that had happened with travelers however it is one of the most important chapter in the pages of historical gold”. “The developments and cultural changes happening in California were very rapid and no other states developed at par with California during this period”. Conclusion From the above discussion it is clear that Gold Rush had a very positive impact in the history of California. The progressions happening in California was very vital and there were interference of many capitalists for gold mining. Gold mining was not the only means of income for the people of California. Because of foundation of gold there were immigrations of people from many parts of world to California in search of work and business. Due to huge rush in the small town the business aspects were too high and merchants not in deal with gold mining were profited equally. There were numerous businesses including food, lodging, transportations which were the prime target of some merchants to make money and Gold Rush helped them. Men and women from different part of world came for jobs and due to high requirements everyone was profited. This period made a great change in the history of California in terms of culture by building of schools and churches. Hence in support to the thesis statement it can be said that Gold Rush had a positive in the state of California. Bibliography Alborn, Timothy. “An Irish El Dorado: Recovering Gold in County Wicklow”. Chicago Journals Secondary Source. 2011. . Benson, Thomas. “Gold, Salt Air, and Calluses”. Primary Source of Naha Online of Gold Rush. 2005. < http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume24/vol24_8.html>. Clay, Karen. “Gold Rush Legacy: American Minerals and the Knowledge Economy”. Stanford University: Primary Source on Gold Rush. 2012. < http://www.stanford.edu/~write/papers/Gold%20Rush%20Legacy.pdf>. Colorado. “Boom and Bust in the American West”. Secondary Source of University of Colorado. 2002. < http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/admin/publication_files/resource-2658-2002.34.pdf>. FHS. “The Era of Individual Enterprise: Mining and Settlement on Tahoe National Forest Lands, 1848 – 1859”. Primary Source on History of Tahoe national Forest. 2010. < http://oit-fhs-pws1.oit.duke.edu/ASPNET/Publications/region/5/tahoe/chap3.htm>. Gerber, Jim. “The Gold Rush Origins of California’s Wheat Economy”. Secondary Source of Academia.edu. 2013. < http://www.academia.edu/3526628/The_Gold_Rush_origins_of_Californias_wheat_economy>. Read More