The Gold Rush Era - Term Paper Example

The Gold Rush Era Table of Contents Introduction 3 Thesis ment 3 Discussion 3 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 9 Introduction The evolution and entrepreneurship of United States and California was contributed by the imperative discovery of California Gold Rush. In the year 1849, the California Gold Rush became the pivotal and interesting part of United States. Around 200 people resided in California at the start of decade 1930. John Sutter was one of the immigrants who resided in California for a hope to build a private enterprise. Sutter Mill was vital for the start of California Gold Rush in the year 1848. James W. Marshal was an employee of the shutter mill with a work to assist the construction of lumber mill. On 24 January 1948, James W. Marshal found gold in California and revealed it to the John Sutter to keep the gold discovery covert. But eventually secret was leaked out and it created a substantial effect on the history of California. By the year 1852, California grew from 200 people to 36,000 people. The Gold Rush helped California to grow rapidly and credited cultural diversity. This research paper will discuss about the adverse influence of Gold Rush Era on California. Thesis statement “Gold Rush Era created an adverse impact on California”. Discussion The discovery of gold nugget by James W. Marshal credited Gold Rush era in California in the year 1948 on 24 January.All efforts was been made to keep the discovery secret. But eventually the discovery was leaked which bought thousands of immigrants from other parts of the world and United States in California1. This resulted in to the growth of population, up to 36,000 during the year 1946 to 1952. The needs of the settlers were met by the expansion of ranching and agriculture. Samuel Brannan was the merchant and newspaper publisher in San Francisco. Samuel Brannan got news about the discovery of gold. “After hearing the news of gold, Samuel Brannan ran on the streets of San Francisco and shouting Gold found on the American River”. “There was several adverse impact of Gold Rush on California”. Although, California’s main growth business was on agriculture which grew all over the state. There are also some negative aspects that affected California. “California’s Native American population was effected by the Gold Rush and it is the most devastating impact on California”. The estimated population of California from Gold Rush Era and gold seekers immigrants all over the world was 150,000 people. People had become greedier and resulted in to the drastic diminishing of Native American population. “The population of Native American was half in a period of two years”. “In the year 1870, the population was reduced to 58,000 and this drastic change of population was mainly due to the conflict between the militia groups and miners”. The mass murder between militia groups and miners was due to the acquiring of land. Immigrants thought that Native Americans was coming in their way of progress and acquiring the land. Immigrants do not respect the legal rights, customs and nature of California’s. Eventually it resulted in to seize of property by Americans. Native Americans had to face even more difficulties2. “People bought diseases for the prospect for gold, resulted in to the death of thousands on Native Americans”. The Native Americans had no resistance towards the diseases bought by newcomers. There are also several issues that caused the death of Native Americans was starvation during the work of mining and forced relocations. “The newcomers who came to the California during the time of Gold Rush Era were surprised by the difficulties and conditions which were not suitable for them”. Workers in the mine had to work for whole day. This created health problem for miners. Water was also not clean which resulted in to diseases such as cholera and pneumonia. Miners used to fell ill by the unhygienic water and foods. “One of the other factors that lead to lawlessness and violence is by Gambling. Gambling has become part of many newcomers”. Gold is not available all the time which caused to the suicide of many miners. “The lack of getting gold meant that miners had to go to their home with empty handed”. Between the year 1849 and 1870, more than 4,600 Native Americans had to suffer from forceful deaths. “The population of California was affected by the victims of starvation and diseases during the period of this gold rush era”. This became difficult to maintain environment sustainability3. The destroying of habitats and fish was solely due to the harmful and toxic chemical during the operation. These aspects and facts can be considered as the negative impact of gold rush era on society as well as environment. “Another adverse impact on the Gold Rush Era was the cultural differences among Native American and Anglo-American”. The violence in the mining communities resulted in to the cultural differences. It is highly important for a state or a country to maintain effective social balance be ensuring great value and respect for each other’s cultural identity. Racism became a growing concern for the government of the United States during the period of gold rush era. This adverse effect created cultural differences among the miners and Latin’s which forced them in to the areas of ranching. “The inevitable part of Gold Rush Era in California was the racial conflicts4”. Initially mining techniques implemented was easy and less investment was required. But eventually technological changes in the mining resulted in to the implementation of sophisticated methods for mining. Legal legislation was deployed to prevent foreign miners such as Chilean and Mexican miners to use mines in California. “Legislation was deployed by Americans as Mexican and Chilean miners were successful on gold mining”. The ethnic strife among the newcomers and Native Americans and miners is the first sign of racial discrimination. It can be sometimes hard for newcomer’s immigrants to sustain on to the new country with different ethnic culture5. “Sometimes cultural mismatch among the newcomers and native miners can create cultural difference and racial conflicts”. The future racial problems provided an ominous indication about the change of economic climate tight after the gold rush era. Miners used to cheat each other due to anger and greed. “This particular legacy of gold rush era critically affected the social balance of entire California as well as the united States”. Gold Rush Era creates adverse effect on the long term scenario. “Gold Rush Era was ended in the 1852 and this ending of Gold Rush Era, totally decreased the availability of gold”. This resulted in to the drastic change of economic condition of California. For short term it has benefitted California by diversifying the nation. But in long term it created problem such as reducing Gold and changing environmental conditions. “The technological advanced techniques employed on the mining resulted in to change in environmental conditions”. It is highly important to maintain environmental sustainability in order to maintain effective ecological balance. Use of modern or advanced technology and intense use of natural energy resources caused high carbon emission6. It affected the environmental sustainability in several ways. People started to suffer from several diseases due to unethical mining practices of gold during and after this gold rush era. The introduction of statehood created turmoil among the nation. In 1850, California applied to become a free state. The number of slave and Freestates was in equal number before the Gold Rush Era. “The fear among the southerners was that slave states can be lower than that of the Free states”. The majority number of northerners can reduce the slavery and would be outnumbered by the Free states. This bought conflict among the Northerners and Southerners to maintain equal number of free and slave states. “The survival of the union can come in to consideration by the conflict. Mine fields are lawless”. Someone can easily bride to gain competitive advantage. “During the time of Gold Rush Era, many newcomers who wanted to enter in to California but never made it”. The example was the Donner party. The group of 87 members wanted to enter in to California but in vain and became snowbound. From the total number of 87 members, only 48 people from numerous families survived. “The discovery of gold might be great news for other countries, but the journey to California was not safe and lead to the death of many people”. Conclusion It is clear from the above research paper that Gold Rush Era created an adverse impact on California. The impact of Gold Rush Era is undoubtedly one of vital issue on the development of California.Gold Rush Era might have bought cultural diversity and economic sustainability in California but it has many negative influencesthat result in to the decrease of population of Native Americans. It created cultural differences among natives and newcomer immigrants. The sophisticated advancement of technology of mining methods created racial conflicts among Mexican miners and American miners. Diseases which were bought by newcomers lead to the death of many Native Americans. The end of Gold Rush Era created non availability of surface gold. This affected the long term benefit of California. Bibliography Calisphere. “1848-1865: The Gold Rush Era”. Primary source of University of California on Gold Rush Era. 2014. . (Primary Source). Calisphere. “Asian Americans: Gold Rush Era to 1890s”. Primary Source of University of California on Gold Rush Era”. 2014. . (Primary Source). Claveran, David. “Gold Rush Golf Course Community Development”. Online Resources for Environmental Impact Analysis. 2008. < http://ice.ucdavis.edu/education/esp179/?q=node/423>. (Secondary Source). Paddison, Joshua. “1848-1865: Gold Rush, Statehood, and the Western Movement”. Primary source of University of California on California Cultures. 2014. < http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/calcultures/eras/era4.html>. (Primary Source). Racismnoway. “About Racism”. Anti-Racism Education for Australian School. 2013. < http://www.racismnoway.com.au/about-racism/timeline/index-1800s.html#y1850>. (Secondary Source). Washington. “A History Bursting With Telling: Asian Americans in Washington State”. Center for the Study of the Pacific North-West. 2010. < https://www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/Website/Classroom%20Materials/Curriculum%20Packets/Asian%20Americans/Asian%20American%20Main.html>. (Secondary Source). Read More