Portrays life in California from the discovery of gold in 1848 through the chaos of the next two years, as tens of thousands of men and hundreds of women arrived from around the world to seek their fortunes.

On the morning of January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold in California. The news spread across the continent, launching hundreds of ships and hitching a thousand prairie schooners filled with adventurers in search of heretofore unimagined wealth. Those who joined the procession—soon called 49ers—included the wealthy and the poor from every state and territory, including slaves brought by their owners. In numbers, they represented the greatest mass migration in the history of the Republic. In this first comprehensive history of the Gold Rush, Malcolm J. Rohrbough demonstrates that in its far-reaching repercussions, it was the most significant event in the first half of the nineteenth century. No other series of events between the Louisiana Purchase and the Civil War produced such a vast movement of people; called into question basic values of marriage, family, work, wealth, and leisure; led to so many varied consequences; and left such vivid memories among its participants. Through extensive research in diaries, letters, and other archival sources, Rohrbough uncovers the personal dilemmas and confusion that the Gold Rush brought. His engaging narrative depicts the complexity of human motivation behind the event and reveals the effects of the Gold Rush as it spread outward in ever-widening circles to touch the lives of families and communities everywhere in the United States. For those who joined the 49ers, the decision to go raised questions about marital obligations and family responsibilities. For those men—and women, whose experiences of being left behind have been largely ignored until now—who remained on the farm or in the shop, the absences of tens of thousands of men over a period of years had a profound impact, reshaping a thousand communities across the breadth of the American nation.

Material culled from letters, diaries, and other firsthand accounts reconstructs the experiences of people involved in the Gold Rush, showing not only what propelled them westward, but how they met the challenges of their journey

Get enchanted with The Gold Rush history and its remarkable events. Are you struggling to make sense of what happened at that specific point in history? Do you want to learn all of the historical stories in an easier manner? Pick up this overview history book today to learn the inspiring history behind The Gold Rush! This is the perfect book for history fans for all kids to enjoy. In the 16th century King Ferdinand of Spain sent his subjects overseas with the order, "Get gold, humanely if possible, but at all hazards, get gold." His words are still relevant today. Gold continues to be among the most costly commodities, but its extraction is notoriously harmful to human and natural communities alike. In fact only about seven percent of all gold bought worldwide annually finds its way into applications in science and medicine. The remainder is stored in bank safes and jewelry stores. So where did our obsession with gold begin? Arguably with the gold rushes which began hundreds of years ago. In this discussion we will look at the gold rushes throughout history and how they led us to where we are today in terms of gold mining and how unsustainable the practice has come in the 21st Century. United States History for Kids for includes: - A complete guide - crucial major events from the beginning to the end for a comprehensive overview - Fascinating moments - the defining moments that everyone should know - Tons of fun facts - makes learning fun with little known stats, trivia, and more. The interesting events that happened to historical figures. - Chapter by chapter activities - delightful exercises for kids to make history fun, whether alone or with others History has generally had a bad reputation of being boring and too complicated. But this series catered to kids will leave young readers learning history in a more interesting and fun manner! If you've been interested in history but don't have time to read long and dragging textbooks, grab this United States History for Kids to get enchanted with its amazing stories!

As one of the many fortune seekers during the California Gold Rush in the 1850's, the reader makes plot choices based on situations real people faced during this exciting time in history.