Gold was the first metals to be mined and is held with great value. It plays a major role in the global economy and has caused wars, myths and mass migrations. This was the case for California when the first traces of gold were discovered in California. Isolation, struggles and alcohol led to the numerous incidences of violence such as homicides and lynching among other violent crimes. The fortune seekers had to endure miserable conditions for shelter and pay exorbitant prices for supplies. California is an example of a ghost of the many gold rush cities in history. The gold rush is known to cause violence and death wherever it goes, and California was no exceptional. The mass populations lead to an extremely high increase in the population in the region causing the demand to be higher than the supply. The demographics of California were changed with Jews being common while other communities such as the African Americans, Latin Americans, the Chinese and the Indians received from the native white Americans. The Gold Rush era which began in 1848 in California led to migrations into the region was characterized by disease and violence, and the region's economy, religion and ethnic disparity shifting to accommodate more ethnic groups from across the world.
Disease is one of the many evils that was brought about by the immigrants. One of the many diseases that was brought into California by the fortune seekers includes Cholera. In California, the disease is estimated to have taken away the lives of 15 percent of the population. The epidemic was further aggravated by the extremely hot weather conditions at the time. The disease would claim up to 20 lives a day in California. Cooler climate diseases at the end of the hot season reduced the rate of infection of the disease until the disease died off.
Towards the end of the Mexican War, gold was discovered in the region of Sacramento in California. By 1849, over 1849, over 800,000 men had moved into California from other regions of the world. The population of California rose from a mere population of 14,000 to a population of 100,000. The once sleepy Society of California became infected with violence, unruly, wild and ethnically diverse. The city was burned to the ground six times within a duration of one and a half years. The immigrants who moved to California in the year 1849 came to be referred to as the forty-niners. These immigrants were the source of terror in California and would kill their counterparts just for sport. Over 1,000 murders were reported in 1850. The military government became incapable of maintaining the law, as merchants formed vigilante committees which used the lynch law and popular courts. The increased population caused an extreme increase in the cost of commodities in California. The gold rush lasted for less than a decade with the individual miner being replaced with mining companies. These companies are said to have extracted gold worth 350 million USD. By 1860, the gold mine had been depleted.
The gold rush era saw thousands of immigrants move into the United States. The most affected states by this great migration were California and San Francisco. After the era had long gone, the impact of the migration was still evident. The two states become multi-ethnicity states. Jews were more popular in California and San Francisco and were even allowed to enjoy religious freedom in these states. Unlike other states in the United States, California welcomed individuals from other religions into their community. By the 1870’s California had become flooded with publications, and was only second to New York. The Jews in California were also allowed to embrace the American ways of life. The new community was able to enjoy both religious and economic freedom. Immigrants took the opportunity to make connections with those like themselves who shared their faith, nationality and ambitions, without letting go of their beliefs and heritage.
The gold rush era was followed by urban development, the emergence of the merchant class, and the formation of new social associations in the society. Judaism is one of the major themes that took place during the time with many individuals adopting new religious beliefs. Many religious institutions were set up during this period most of which were Jewish. Stereotypes were formed on the basis of religion and ethnicity. Anti-Semitism also emerged during this period. Relationships between Gentiles and the Jews evolved during this period. The Jews perceived California as their promised land.
The era involved controversies which surrounded areas such as liberation, religion, social and personal aspects. Not all immigrants were as lucky as the Jews. The gold rush attracted immigrants from all parts of the world including Turkey, Mexico, Germany, China, Ireland and France. The Chinese fortune seekers were particularly many. Unlike the Jewish immigrant, the Chinese did not wish to settle in the United States or the ‘Gold Mountain as they liked to refer to the gold mine. Their intention was to acquire fortune and then return to their country China rich. Bandits were common in California and they would wait out on these immigrants and rob them of their fortune. The Chinese came up with a creative way of concealing their gold. They would melt the gold and mold it in the form of household goods especially utensils and cover them with soot to disguise them. On arriving in China, they would melt the utensils to retrieve their gold. The large Chinese population led to ethnic tensions in California especially with the gold mine beginning to diminish. The foreign miner’s tax was introduced. The act stipulated that every foreign miner paid a monthly tax of 20 USD. This restricted many Chinese from pursuing the gold mines. The native white Americans had come with this act as a strategy to reduce competition from the Chinese for work and pay. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 halted the migration of the Chinese into the United States for a period of 10 years (Kahn 2002). Other communities which were discriminated were Latin Americans and the African Americans.
Despite the high value associated with gold mines, not all fortune-seekers were lucky. Marshall, the man who discovered the gold working at the saw mill at the ranch of Sutter, did not benefit from the gold mine nor did the owner of the ranch. His property was destroyed and his cattle stolen by the fortune seekers. The two never benefitted from the discovery and Marshall only received a two-year pension from the Californian government.
The extremely high population of California had a key influence on the region’s economy, culture and environment. The millions of dollars from the gold mine were spent in gambling halls, saloons, stores and brothels. The gold seekers were a source of terror for the Native Americans. In their search for gold, the gold seekers got rid of any obstacles that came between them and their fortune. California became an ethnic conflict ground with discrimination being demonstrated in various ways such as bounties being placed on the heads of the Indians with men, women and children’s heads fetching different amounts. The Jews were importers and business partners by the Native Americans, and they also played a major role of being lawyers. Liberty was offered to the immigrants and together with economic success made California a potential business environment for the immigrants compared to other regions of the United States or other continents such as Europe. In other religions such as Spain, Jews were banished from the society and religious prosecution was a normal aspect. California is believed to be one of the regions in the United States that have experienced the largest amount of ethnic disparities in its populations (Yung and Judy 2006). The region allowed the immigrants to adapt the American life, especially immigrants who agree with the American ideas and ideologies. Children attended school and involved themselves in activities such as baseball and football which gave them the sense of liberty and freedom. Ethnicity was however still common with certain tribes restricting intermarriages and relations with them. The American culture is associated with speech, dress, slang, entertainment, ideas and entertainment.
In conclusion, the gold rush era in California led to massive immigrations which led to an increased demand and a decreased supply leading to the extremely cost of supplies and the violence which resulted to homicides on numerous occasions. Gold seekers trickled into California bringing with them epidemics such as cholera. The era played a major role in determining the state's economy, religion and culture. California became one of the most popular regions with the highest levels of ethnicity multiplicity. Conflict between various ethnic groups was common with certain group members refraining from associating with other ethnic groups. Jews were easily accepted into the society and offered the community services such as importing, business partnerships and lawyers. Other ethnic groups were not as lucky including the native white Americans who were constantly harassed by the fortune-seeking immigrants. Violent activities such as lynching, murders and robbery were common. The individual miner was forced to endure harsh living conditions. Communities such as the Chinese were banned from entering the United States for ten years. Other communities which were treated with animosity include Indians, African Americans and Latin Americans.
References
Beebe, Rose Marie and Robert M. Senkewicz. "THE FOUNDING DOCUMENTS OF LOS ANGELES: A Bilingual Edition Doyce B. Nunis, Jr.". Southern California Quarterly 86, no. 4 (2004): 408-410.
Kahn, Ava Fran. Jewish Voices Of The California Gold Rush. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2002.
"Telling Identities: The Californio Testimonios". Choice Reviews Online 33, no. 04 (1995): 33- 2345-33-2345.
Yung, Judy, Gordon H Chang, and H. Mark Lai. Chinese American Voices. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006.
