People

The accidental discovery of gold began a great change in California. Many people of different nationalities came from all over the world. These are the people that settled the California we know today.

President Polk gave a message to Congress on December 5, 1848. "The accounts of the abundance of gold are such extraordinary character as would scarcely command belief." Polk told everyone that reliable officials assured him, "the supply is very large."

Men came from around the world with grand dreams. They envisioned mountain streams laden with gold! It was the adventure of a lifetime for many!

In 1848, there were about 150,000 Indians living in California and about 14,000 other people. By 1849, there were 40,000 people digging for gold. Men of all ages left their homes, farms, wives, and businesses to head to gold country. The population soon reached 224,000 non-Indian people in California.

Many migrants came to California and worked side by side with persons of every culture who were already there. During the first year when gold was fairly plentiful, everyone got along well. When the gold became harder to find, many prejudices and jealousies surfaced. Many white American citizens felt they were the only ones who should profit from the gold.

Click on any of the icons below to find out more infortmation
about the people that came to California in the Gold Rush.

Blacks
Chinese
Indians
James Marshall
John Sutter
Women

Annotated Bibliography

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