Impact of Gold Rush on California

Introduction

U.S. history is rich, and each era has its characteristics and specific contributions to the development of the states and the establishment of new rules and living standards. The progress of California was slow because of the Spanish invasion and colonization in the 18th century and Mexican control in the first half of the 19th century. However, the situation was dramatically changed in the 1840s when the Mexican-American War ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, giving the territory of California to the United States in 1848.¹

In January 1848, Swiss immigrant John Sutter together with his carpenter, James Marshall, found something sparkling in the American River during the sawmill building. It was impossible to keep the discovery in secrete for a long period, and in less than two weeks, the locals were aware of possible gold deposits on their land. It was the beginning of the California Gold Rush, during which thousands of Americans and citizens from other countries came to try their luck. The impact of the Gold Rush was substantial on California, including such remarkable changes as population growth, economic development, and the promotion of social inequality.

The Gold Rush in California

One of the most evident outcomes of the California Gold Rush was the large mass migration. People did not want to lose their opportunity to gain financial benefits and enrich themselves. Rich individuals like Sutter used Native Americans as a free source of labor for a long period and expected to expand their lands, neglecting the rights of immigrants and native citizens.² However, the number of people coming to California continued to grow – less than 1,000 non-natives in the pre-Gold Rush era compared to 100,000 people after the gold discovery.³ Other changes were observed in the economic and political fields.

From that moment, industrialization was inevitable for California, which allowed its acceptance to the Union in 1850 as a free state. Men who succeed in gold extraction could handsomely for any feminized services like housekeeping, cooking, and laundry, and women, in their turn, were able to gain riches and independence with time.⁴ At the same time, negative effects could not be ignored because those events provoked serious environmental challenges.⁵ The discussion of the Gold Rush has to be ambiguous as its advantages and disadvantages had a tremendous impact on California.

Population Growth

During the Gold Rush, demographic changes were critical, which considerably affected the development of the region. In general, before the discovery of one of the most profitable natural resources, about 165,000 people lived in California, and its vast majority (about 150,000) contained Indians.⁶ Many people lived in isolated areas, demonstrating their respect for nature and autonomy. The rest 7,500 were Californios, and 6,500 were of American and European extraction.⁷ No official counts were made to calculate the census, but some sources admit that the first reports proved the increase of the non-native population at more than 100,000 within the next two months.⁸

This impact was critical for developing interpersonal relationships, understanding cultural differences, and creating new places for living. Many insignificant settlements turned into boomtowns in several years, and San Francisco is the brightest example. The number of migrants was impressive, and radical transformations were hard to avoid. The citizens of Mexican descent had to live together with Americans from other states. People wanted not to lose the connection with their families, which resulted in the promotion of new communication tools or additional migration due to family issues.

Economic Development

Economic contributions related to the Gold Rush changed California from many perspectives. The development of a country or a region in this field depends on different factors, including natural and human resources, technology, and international relationships. The discovery of gold shaped the way of how California could enter American and global markets by blending its agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and services industries.⁹ In fact, almost all activities in which the citizens of California were involved had a certain economic impact. According to Hurtado, “unpaid wives who cooked, sewed, and cleaned,” “child rearing,” and labor distribution between males and females “contributed to the general economy.”¹⁰

A revolution of the transportation industry and the necessity to build roads, bridges, and houses were the Gold Rush elements. People needed new areas for living, means of connection, and devices to exchange information. In addition, natural resources had to be properly extracted, and mining machinery had to be improved. Skilled employees, technicians, and other trained professionals were in demand, raising the worth of education.¹¹ Parents were interested in supporting their children’s future, and poor people and slaves wanted to change their lives, following the American Dream.

Social Inequality

Among the existing impacts of the Gold Rush on California, increased social inequality deserves special attention. Although it was expected that natural resources would be equally distributed among citizens, it was evident that some people got access to better equipment and knowledge. Spiritual and cultural awareness of the population influenced the decisions to either devastate or protect the land. Starr admitted that immigrants and Americans were “indulging in a daydream” and promoted “intellectually dishonest and de-humanizing to Native America” principles.¹² Violence against native populations was increased, and clashes between settlers took many Native American lives.

During the first months of the Gold Rush, immigration was a benefit for the state. Still, with time, certain minority groups were deprived of employment opportunities and challenged by new tax policies directed particularly towards Chinese and Hispanic immigrants.¹³ Some people could allow themselves to pay 20 dollars per month, and those who lacked financial support had to leave the mining industry and even the country.¹⁴ The optimistic spirit of pioneering miners remains integral for many modern Americans. Unfortunately, Native Americans remembered that era as a terrible re-evaluation of their rights, opportunities, and freedoms.

Conclusion

The Gold Rush of 1849 was a turning point in the development of California and the recognition of the United States as a powerful global leader. The discovery of gold began with several mining settlements being established in small camps. In several years, those regions turned into large developed towns with a number of skilled professionals. Despite the advantages of the movement like immigration, increased population, and economic growth, such shortages as social inequality and lost opportunities had their consequences.

Not many people were ready to fight for their rights because, like Native Americans, they respected their natural resources and tried not to invade their land deeply. Foreign miners and enthusiastic Americans left their homes and came to California to find more gold. Some attempts were successful, while others were frustrating. However, in general, the impact of the Gold Rush on California was great and promoted social, economic, and demographic changes in a short period.

Bibliography

Chan, Sucheng. “A People of Exceptional Character: Ethnic Diversity, Nativism, and Racism in the California Gold Rush.” California History 79, no. 2 (2000): 44-85.

History.com Editors. “California Gold Rush.” History. 2021. Web.

Hurtado, Albert L. “Sex, Gender, Culture, and a Great Event: The California Gold Rush.” Pacific History Review 68, no. 1 (1999): 1-19.

Shaler, Andrew. “Indigenous Peoples and the California Gold Rush: Labour, Violence and Contention in the Formation of a Settler Colonial State.” Postcolonial Studies 23, no. 1 (2020): 79-98.

Starr, Kevin. “The Gold Rush and the California Dream.” California History 77, no. 1 (1998): 56-67.

Footnotes

1. History.com Editors, “California Gold Rush,” History. Web.
2. History.com Editors, “California Gold Rush.”. Web.
3. History.com Editors, “California Gold Rush.”. Web.
4. Albert L. Hurtado, “Sex, Gender, Culture, and a Great Event: The California Gold Rush,” Pacific History Review 68, no. 1 (1999): 6.
5. Kevin Starr, “The Gold Rush and the California Dream,” California History 77, no. 1 (1998): 58.
6. Hurtado, “Sex, Gender, Culture, and a Great Event,” 3.
7. Hurtado, “Sex, Gender, Culture, and a Great Event,” 3.
8. History.com Editors, “California Gold Rush.”. Web.
9. Starr, “The Gold Rush and the California Dream,” 63.
10. Hurtado, “Sex, Gender, Culture, and a Great Event,” 6.
11. Sucheng Chan, “A People of Exceptional Character: Ethnic Diversity, Nativism, and Racism in the California Gold Rush,” California History 79, no. 2 (2000): 72.
12. Starr, “The Gold Rush and the California Dream,” 58.
13. Andrew Shaler, “Indigenous Peoples and the California Gold Rush: Labour, Violence and Contention in the Formation of a Settler Colonial State,” Postcolonial Studies 23, no. 1 (2020): 85.
14. Shaler, “Indigenous Peoples and the California Gold Rush,” 85.