History Of The California Gold Rush Of 1849

A. The longest river in the world at over 4,100 miles in length, the Nile River separated ancient Egypt into two regions, Upper to the south and Lower Egypt to the north. A bit confusing, on a map, but the names came from the flow of the Nile River. Most Ancient Egyptians lived near the river for the benefits the area provided; transportation, food, water and excellent soil for growing food. The soil along the river, known as the Black Land, is rich and fertile and provides excellent conditions for growing crops and boasting wildlife, a far cry from the rest of arid Egypt, known as the Red Land, that is covered with sand. In the spring with the snowmelt from the mountains of East Africa, the Nile would predictably rise with a torrent of water and fill canals made by Egyptian laborers. The water collected in the basins and canals would provide a water source for the next year. Crops were harvested prior to the annual inundation (rising) of the river that occurred around
In began following the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in Northern California in early 1848. Word of the discoveries location spread quickly and people soon swarmed into the hills seeking the precious commodity. In 1849 alone, California saw eighty thousand people arrive to look for gold, that number grew to three hundred thousand by 1854. An estimated ten million dollars in gold was extracted in 1849, forty-one million the following year and another eighty-one in 1852. Americans felt the gold rush was an equal opportunity. With Newspapers across the country reporting the events, people traveled west not only to mine the mines, but also to mine the miners who were already price gouged by the inflation in California. The migration changed the whole country, not just California. Transportation was enhanced and cities began developing across the country (“Gold Rush,”