California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848. James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget in the American River and the news spread quickly. Thousands of immigrants from different parts of the U.S. other countries moved to California causing a dramatic increase in its population. In fact, the population of San Francisco rose from 1,000 in 1848 to 20,000 by 1850. The population rose so quickly that the state was integrated into the Union as the 31st state of the United States only two years after it was acquired from Mexico. People from eastern United States migrated westward to discover gold and make fortunes. But to get to California, immigrants had two possible routes, each taking about six months. One involved a long sea voyage around the tip of South America, whereas the land route used the Oregon-California Trail. Seasickness and difficult land travel led to the construction of the Panama Railway in 1850, which made traveling faster and easier.
The Gold Rush attracted a global emigration of formidable fortune hunters from many countries, particularly China. The Chinese wanted to take the gold back home. To avoid robbery from bandits, they melted the gold into household goods and covered them in black soot. Due to the large amount of foreigners, California Legislature enacted the Foreign Miners Tax in 1850, which taxed foreign miners $20 monthly. This restricted the Chinese from stealing local wages and jobs. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act came into effect, preventing Chinese from becoming U.S. citizens.
Due to the Gold Rush, in the 19th century, California had the most ethnic backgrounds than any other U.S. state.
The Gold Rush attracted a global emigration of formidable fortune hunters from many countries, particularly China. The Chinese wanted to take the gold back home. To avoid robbery from bandits, they melted the gold into household goods and covered them in black soot. Due to the large amount of foreigners, California Legislature enacted the Foreign Miners Tax in 1850, which taxed foreign miners $20 monthly. This restricted the Chinese from stealing local wages and jobs. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act came into effect, preventing Chinese from becoming U.S. citizens.
Due to the Gold Rush, in the 19th century, California had the most ethnic backgrounds than any other U.S. state.