Klondik Gold Rush Research Paper
The Unfulfilled Dream at Klondike Klondike Gold Rush, which is also known as Yukon Gold Rush, was one of the world’s most influential impacts of the discovery of gold. The rush started by the accidental discovery of a gold placer in Rabbit Creek, Yukon, by a man named Skookum Jim Mason and his brother in law, George Carmack, in 1896 (Klondike Gold Rush). The news of the gold finding spread through the Yukon River valley and eventually reached the United States in 1897. At that time, the United States was hit by an economy crisis which caused a widespread unemployment. So people who lost their job were trying to change their luck by joining the gold rush with the hope they could strike it rich. Those who went to Klondike to find their own
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gold were called “the stampeders”. However, not all of the people who went to Klondike struck it rich. Only few of them were actually got rich. The rest did not find much gold there because the previous miners already claimed the gold so they could not obtain their own gold. Other reason why some of them did not strike it rich was because they were lack of knowledge about the condition in Klondike so they could not survive the unfriendly environment there. Some other people even did not make it all the way to Klondike because the trip to reach the gold field was very difficult and full of obstacles. Some people could not reach Klondike and join the gold rush with the other people was because of the tough journey they failed to encounter.
The journey was difficult to get through and also the gold fields were located in a remote area, which made it harder to access. There were several different ways to get to the fields. The first way was the easiest route which called the “Rich Man’s Route”. It was 4,700 miles trip by a boat started from Seattle and ended at Yukon River, then the stampeders from there could continue to Dawson City (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). It was referred as the “Rich Man’s Route” because at that time the boat ticket fare was high, which was caused by the gold rush so the boat company raised the fare, and people who could afford this route only those who were rich enough to pay the fare. This travel method was easy so most people who travel this way could easily reach Klondike. The second route was probably the most difficult way to get to Klondike. It was a journey started from Edmonton, Alberta, and ended in Dawson City. People seldom chose this route because it was the toughest and most dangerous route. If people chose this way, they have to travel 1,600 miles which could take about two years before they could reach Dawson City (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). For the reasons above, the third route was the most popular route, which known as the “Poor Man’s Trail”. The route began by traveling on a boat from Seattle and headed north …show more content…
to Skagway in Alaska, over the Chilkoot to the Yukon River and then continued by boat about 550 miles before it reached Dawson City to the goldfields (Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory 1897). This last route was the one that was chosen by most of the people. It was preferable than the other two because most of the stampeders who join the gold rush could not afford the “Rich Man’s Route” or they were afraid they could not complete the journey if they go through the most dangerous route. However, although this route was the most popular one, it did not mean that it was easy. They had to pass the Chilkoot trail, which was a dangerous path with steep steps. It was rising 1,000 feet in the last 500 mile, which was a 1,500 steps carved out of snow (Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory 1897). These steps were known as “Golden Staircase” because these steps was made and carved by labor workers and the enterprising man collected toll from the stampeders who crossed there. It was a hazardous trail because it was very slippery and narrow, which was too steep for the packhorses and the stampeders to carry their goods. Moreover, the goods that the stampeders bring with them were not just a few things that could be easily carried. They had to bring at least one-year supply with them, which was about 1 ton of goods per person, before they are allowed by the Northwest Mounted Police to enter into Canada. Those who made it through the border still had to built their own boat to go through the final 500 miles down the Yukon River. It was a three-week trip through rapids before the stampeders reach the goldfields (Klondike Gold Rush). John London recorded this extreme journey in his novel “The Call of the Wild”. He documented his experience in joining the gold rush which was combined beautifully with the plot of the story about a dog named Buck who learned how to survive in a cruel world during his trip as a sled dog to Klondike. Many stampeders did not make it at this point because they lost their possessions and even their lives when their boat broke on the rapids. The gold rush journey sure was not an easy trip; only one person from a hundred people could make it through Klondike. Once they could not complete the trip, not they just lost the chance to strike it rich, but also their time and money. Another factor that caused the stampeders could not strike it rich was because they were lack of knowledge and information about the gold rush itself.
Although they could make it through the harsh condition and near death experience, but if they know nothing about the gold and what do they have to do when they get there, the trip would be meaningless. Some of the stampeders who decided to go to Klondike were influenced by the news which said that the gold in Klondike was easy to get. They just have to endure the long journey to Klondike and collect their gold. Caused by the economy crisis that time, people who suffered financially because of the widespread unemployment were blinded by the greediness and the hope that they could also strike it rich. They did not do any research about the gold fields, what to prepare for the trip, and the unfriendly condition along the journey to get to Klondike. They simply just packed their belongings and joined the rush. The first problem that the stampeders faced was the bad weather that they have to face during their long trip to Klondike. They did not prepare for this condition and some of them did not bring enough heavy clothing to keep themselves warm during the winter. The effect of this careless action was there were people dead caused by the freezing weather (Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory 1897). Other problem was some of the stampeders did not know about the regulation from the Northwest Mounted Canada that every person who
wanted to enter Canada had to bring at least one-year supply per person. Those who did not know about this information ended with buying a year supply from supply sellers who took advantages from this opportunity by knowing that there would be lots of people who were not prepared with enough supplies and sold it with high price. Buying such expensive supplies before finding the gold was not a good start to strike it rich. After the stampeders passed the border and reached Klondike, they were face by the fact that they had to have utensils to pan for the gold. There were people who did not prepare themselves with the equipment needed. For the stampeders who did not know that they had to put an effort in gathering the gold, they had to buy the gold panning tools from the sellers with a high price (Skookum Jim’s Discovery), who were definitely had foreseen this kind of condition as a prospect of money making. Although they had bought the gold panning tools and started to pan for the gold, it did not guarantee that the stampeders would easily found gold. It requires techniques and skills, which not all of them obtained. Moreover, it also needs some luck to find the gold. Unfortunately, when the stampeders reached Klondike, not all of the fields were available for the stampeders who just arrived to find the gold. Most of the gold fields were already claimed and taken by the previous miners before them (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). Many stampeders were disappointed by the fact that they could not fulfill their hope to become rich. This factor contributes as another reason why not all of the stampeders who went to Klondike strike it rich. Beside the fact that most of the gold field had been claimed by the previous miners, if they still wanted to find their own gold they had to dug about ten or more feet below (Klondike Gold Rush). However, the work that needed to be done was unbelievable. To get to the gold, miners had to dig through the permafrost, which is a layer of frozen ground. This task would be easier to do during summer rather than doing it during the winter when the temperature could reach below -60º F. Then again, the gold rush “fever” was happening during the winter in which the weather was not suitable for digging. Many disappointed stampeders sailed back home, while some others chose to stay at Dawson City and worked for those who possessed the claims because they thought it would be a regrettable journey if they had try their best to get through the hazardous journey but doing nothing when they arrived there. Although most of the stampeders never found any gold and failed to accomplish their expectation to strike it rich because they could not complete the difficult and harsh journey to Klondike, some of them could not survive through the unfriendly environment during the trip, and even when they successfully arrived at Klondike the fields were already taken and claimed by the previous miners, all of them still have the experience and memory that once they had the spirit to change their luck and strike it rich at Klondike that will be remembered for the rest of their lives.
Works Cited
Berton, Pierre. "Klondike Gold Rush." 10 Dec. 2008
.
"Klondike Gold Rush." HistoryNet.com. Weider History Group. 13 Dec. 2008
.
"Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory." 12 Dec. 2008
.
London, Jack. The Call of the Wild. New York: Scholastic, Incorporated.
“Skookum Jim’s Discovery.” A Brief Gold Rush History. 12 Dec. 2008 < http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/klgo/adhi/adhi1.htm>.
"Supply List." 10 Dec. 2008
.
“The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush.” Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
14 Dec. 2008 .
gold were called “the stampeders”. However, not all of the people who went to Klondike struck it rich. Only few of them were actually got rich. The rest did not find much gold there because the previous miners already claimed the gold so they could not obtain their own gold. Other reason why some of them did not strike it rich was because they were lack of knowledge about the condition in Klondike so they could not survive the unfriendly environment there. Some other people even did not make it all the way to Klondike because the trip to reach the gold field was very difficult and full of obstacles. Some people could not reach Klondike and join the gold rush with the other people was because of the tough journey they failed to encounter.
The journey was difficult to get through and also the gold fields were located in a remote area, which made it harder to access. There were several different ways to get to the fields. The first way was the easiest route which called the “Rich Man’s Route”. It was 4,700 miles trip by a boat started from Seattle and ended at Yukon River, then the stampeders from there could continue to Dawson City (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). It was referred as the “Rich Man’s Route” because at that time the boat ticket fare was high, which was caused by the gold rush so the boat company raised the fare, and people who could afford this route only those who were rich enough to pay the fare. This travel method was easy so most people who travel this way could easily reach Klondike. The second route was probably the most difficult way to get to Klondike. It was a journey started from Edmonton, Alberta, and ended in Dawson City. People seldom chose this route because it was the toughest and most dangerous route. If people chose this way, they have to travel 1,600 miles which could take about two years before they could reach Dawson City (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). For the reasons above, the third route was the most popular route, which known as the “Poor Man’s Trail”. The route began by traveling on a boat from Seattle and headed north …show more content…
to Skagway in Alaska, over the Chilkoot to the Yukon River and then continued by boat about 550 miles before it reached Dawson City to the goldfields (Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory 1897). This last route was the one that was chosen by most of the people. It was preferable than the other two because most of the stampeders who join the gold rush could not afford the “Rich Man’s Route” or they were afraid they could not complete the journey if they go through the most dangerous route. However, although this route was the most popular one, it did not mean that it was easy. They had to pass the Chilkoot trail, which was a dangerous path with steep steps. It was rising 1,000 feet in the last 500 mile, which was a 1,500 steps carved out of snow (Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory 1897). These steps were known as “Golden Staircase” because these steps was made and carved by labor workers and the enterprising man collected toll from the stampeders who crossed there. It was a hazardous trail because it was very slippery and narrow, which was too steep for the packhorses and the stampeders to carry their goods. Moreover, the goods that the stampeders bring with them were not just a few things that could be easily carried. They had to bring at least one-year supply with them, which was about 1 ton of goods per person, before they are allowed by the Northwest Mounted Police to enter into Canada. Those who made it through the border still had to built their own boat to go through the final 500 miles down the Yukon River. It was a three-week trip through rapids before the stampeders reach the goldfields (Klondike Gold Rush). John London recorded this extreme journey in his novel “The Call of the Wild”. He documented his experience in joining the gold rush which was combined beautifully with the plot of the story about a dog named Buck who learned how to survive in a cruel world during his trip as a sled dog to Klondike. Many stampeders did not make it at this point because they lost their possessions and even their lives when their boat broke on the rapids. The gold rush journey sure was not an easy trip; only one person from a hundred people could make it through Klondike. Once they could not complete the trip, not they just lost the chance to strike it rich, but also their time and money. Another factor that caused the stampeders could not strike it rich was because they were lack of knowledge and information about the gold rush itself.
Although they could make it through the harsh condition and near death experience, but if they know nothing about the gold and what do they have to do when they get there, the trip would be meaningless. Some of the stampeders who decided to go to Klondike were influenced by the news which said that the gold in Klondike was easy to get. They just have to endure the long journey to Klondike and collect their gold. Caused by the economy crisis that time, people who suffered financially because of the widespread unemployment were blinded by the greediness and the hope that they could also strike it rich. They did not do any research about the gold fields, what to prepare for the trip, and the unfriendly condition along the journey to get to Klondike. They simply just packed their belongings and joined the rush. The first problem that the stampeders faced was the bad weather that they have to face during their long trip to Klondike. They did not prepare for this condition and some of them did not bring enough heavy clothing to keep themselves warm during the winter. The effect of this careless action was there were people dead caused by the freezing weather (Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory 1897). Other problem was some of the stampeders did not know about the regulation from the Northwest Mounted Canada that every person who
wanted to enter Canada had to bring at least one-year supply per person. Those who did not know about this information ended with buying a year supply from supply sellers who took advantages from this opportunity by knowing that there would be lots of people who were not prepared with enough supplies and sold it with high price. Buying such expensive supplies before finding the gold was not a good start to strike it rich. After the stampeders passed the border and reached Klondike, they were face by the fact that they had to have utensils to pan for the gold. There were people who did not prepare themselves with the equipment needed. For the stampeders who did not know that they had to put an effort in gathering the gold, they had to buy the gold panning tools from the sellers with a high price (Skookum Jim’s Discovery), who were definitely had foreseen this kind of condition as a prospect of money making. Although they had bought the gold panning tools and started to pan for the gold, it did not guarantee that the stampeders would easily found gold. It requires techniques and skills, which not all of them obtained. Moreover, it also needs some luck to find the gold. Unfortunately, when the stampeders reached Klondike, not all of the fields were available for the stampeders who just arrived to find the gold. Most of the gold fields were already claimed and taken by the previous miners before them (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). Many stampeders were disappointed by the fact that they could not fulfill their hope to become rich. This factor contributes as another reason why not all of the stampeders who went to Klondike strike it rich. Beside the fact that most of the gold field had been claimed by the previous miners, if they still wanted to find their own gold they had to dug about ten or more feet below (Klondike Gold Rush). However, the work that needed to be done was unbelievable. To get to the gold, miners had to dig through the permafrost, which is a layer of frozen ground. This task would be easier to do during summer rather than doing it during the winter when the temperature could reach below -60º F. Then again, the gold rush “fever” was happening during the winter in which the weather was not suitable for digging. Many disappointed stampeders sailed back home, while some others chose to stay at Dawson City and worked for those who possessed the claims because they thought it would be a regrettable journey if they had try their best to get through the hazardous journey but doing nothing when they arrived there. Although most of the stampeders never found any gold and failed to accomplish their expectation to strike it rich because they could not complete the difficult and harsh journey to Klondike, some of them could not survive through the unfriendly environment during the trip, and even when they successfully arrived at Klondike the fields were already taken and claimed by the previous miners, all of them still have the experience and memory that once they had the spirit to change their luck and strike it rich at Klondike that will be remembered for the rest of their lives.
Works Cited
Berton, Pierre. "Klondike Gold Rush." 10 Dec. 2008
.
"Klondike Gold Rush." HistoryNet.com. Weider History Group. 13 Dec. 2008
.
"Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory." 12 Dec. 2008
.
London, Jack. The Call of the Wild. New York: Scholastic, Incorporated.
“Skookum Jim’s Discovery.” A Brief Gold Rush History. 12 Dec. 2008 < http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/klgo/adhi/adhi1.htm>.
"Supply List." 10 Dec. 2008
.
“The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush.” Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
14 Dec. 2008 .