Elizabeth Avveduto

LBS 375
October 9, 2014
DBQ #2: The Rush
Gold was discovered in California in 1848 and brought many changes.
Not only was California the ideal destination for those looking for wealth it
also allowed people to create other jobs for themselves. The Gold Rush
allowed people to take risks. Those risks opened the door to some major
impacts on California and its people. For example, Californias population
increased significantly allowing it to become a state; there was also an
increase in commercial jobs and the rise in development of agriculture.
Evidence suggests that the population increased with almost 100,000
people seeking gold who came from all over the United States as well as
other parts of the world.1 According to another source Trail-journal entries
suggest that of the twenty-five thousand people traveling overland in 1849
at least three thousand were women and fifteen hundred children and In
1852 an estimated fifty thousand again surged across the continent.2 The
Gold Rush brought more attention to California than ever before. It was once
a place where no one wanted to travel to. In addition, because of the
increase in population it allowed California to become the 31st state.3 Perhaps
without an increase in population it would have taken longer for California to
be recognized as a state. Luckily, California became an official state
September 9, 1850.

Additionally, the Gold Rush allowed for an increase in commercial jobs.

Some evidence suggests that women found it easier and more profitable to
earn income with the use of their domestic skills.4 It is also noted that
Laundresses were in especially high demand in the gold fields.5 As soon as
other countries found out about the discovery of gold in California they
began importing women for prostitution from China, Chile and even within
the United States.5 With the high demand of gold mining among men and
women as well, it created jobs for those who could not make it gold mining.
Rather than going back to their home states/countries these people were
able to make a living by taking jobs that others had left behind while they
were in search for gold. Unfortunately, for some women instead of using their
domestic skills to earn income they were being exposed in order to provide
theatrical entertainment for lonesome miners.6
With an increase in population and jobs comes the rise in agriculture,
since California was now forced to provide enough food for the growing
population. One source states, California agriculture had been stimulated by
exploding demand for food from the Gold Rush population boom.7 In
addition, The states remoteness from the nations main food-producing
regions led to a rapid expansion of cultivated acreage.8 In a matter of two
years Californias agriculture was dominated by wheat. One unique aspect
about the development of agriculture is that it allowed for changes involving
transportation. When the transcontinental railroad established a practical
conduit to the eastern U.S., California agriculture became a national force. 9

The Gold Rush allowed some innovators to come up with a way to transport
goods all over the United States.
It is evident that the gold rush was a contributing factor in Californias
growth and development. It allowed for a melting pot of various ethnicities to
work around and with each other to achieve a common goal; prosperity.
There were many great outcomes as a result of the Gold Rush for California
and its people. For instance, Californias population increased significantly
allowing it to become a state, there was also an increase in commercial jobs
and the rise in the development of agriculture.
Notes
1. Sucheng Chang, and Spencer C. Olin. "The Spanish Impact on the
Indians, 1769-1821." In Major problems in California history: documents and
essays. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. 110-111.
2.Ibid., 121.
3. "California Admission Day September 9, 1850." California
Admission Day September 9, 1850. Accessed October 9, 2014
4. Chang, Spanish Impact, 123.
5. Ibid., 124.
6. Ibid., 125.
7. California Department of Finance."The Gold Rush."
http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/FS_DATA/HistoryCAEconomy/gold_rush.htm
(accessed October 8, 2014).
8. Ibid., The Gold Rush
9. Ibid., The Gold Rush