eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Mexican American War, 1846 1848

For Students 11th - 12th
After reading this section of a chapter on "Westward Expansion," students will be able to identify the causes of the Mexican-American War and describe the outcomes of the war in 1848 and the effect of the California Gold Rush on westward...
Primary
Other

California Gold Country: James W. Marshall's Account of First Discovery of Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
James W. Marshall's own words about discovering gold at Sutter's Mill in California in 1848.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Oakland Museum of California: Gold Rush and Hydraulic Mining

For Students 9th - 10th
This page gives a brief explanation of extracting minerals by means of hydraulic mining. This was a labor intensive process that was often dangerous but necessary to find gold.
Interactive
Vocabulary University

My vocabulary.com: Gold Rush California

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This page has a variety of vocabulary puzzles and activities using 19 words pertaining to the Gold Rush in California. It also offers an extensive Vocabulary Word List of 286 words, and ideas for lesson plans on the topic.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Death Valley National Park

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Death Valley acquired its name during the California Gold Rush, but the Timbisha Shoshone inhabited the region long before. The severely hot and dry national park is packed with history, culture, incredible geology, and, believe it or...
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Death Valley National Park

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Death Valley acquired its name during the California Gold Rush, but the Timbisha Shoshone inhabited the region long before. The severely hot and dry national park is packed with history, culture, incredible geology, and, believe it or...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: The Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
The 1848 discovery of gold in the territory of California prompted 300,000 hopeful prospectors to flood into the region, altering it forever.
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Searching for Gold: A Collaborative Inquiry Project

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Contains plans for six lessons that ask students to research the Gold Rush before teaching each other about it. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as well as...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: California History Collection: The Discovery of Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains an article on the discovery of gold in California at Sutter's Mill that resulted in the California Gold Rush.
Handout
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of San Francisco: African American Rights Gold Rush Era

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides information concerning African American rights in the California gold country before the Civil War.
eBook
Other

Gold, Greed, & Genocide: The Story of California's 1849 Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
Use the table of contents to explore this site which recounts the plight of the Native Americans who lived in California before the Gold Rush and the impact of the gold rush on their lives.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Chinese Transformed

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses the role of the Chinese immigrants during the gold rush in California and the mark they made on history.
Graphic
Other

Object of History: Chinese Miners (Chinese Immigration During the Gold Rush)

For Students 9th - 10th
An image is provided of "Gan Saam Meets El Dorado," which depicts the Chinese miners in California during the 1850s in search of gold.
Unit Plan
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Stories of the Lure and Legacy

For Students 9th - 10th
Experience the Gold Rush through this multimedia presentation. See the art that reflects the environment, characters, and the role of women in the gold rush. Listen to an overview of the gold rush and its impact.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Gold in California

For Students 5th - 8th
The gold rush in California accelerated the western migration of thousands of young American men, who streamed into California to find riches. See who else arrived in California and find out what they did. In addition, there is a map...
Primary
Harp Week

Harp Week: Mining Life in California

For Students 9th - 10th
Illustrated article from Harper's Weekly, October 3, 1857, page 632, focusing on Chinese workers and their life in California mining camps.
Online Course
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Score: Gold Mountain Webquest

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
At this site from the Schools of California Online Resources for Education, students will travel back in time as Chinese Immigrants in this detailed WebQuest. By using the resources and links given, students will file a job profile,...
Primary
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Sherman and the Discovery of Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
An account by William Tecumseh Sherman about the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill.
Graphic
California Digital Library

Calisphere: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
A broad selection of images featuring westward expansion in California can be found on this site by Calisphere. By clicking on individual images you'll find high quality photographs and image information.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Prospecting Coyote Hole

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents information on African American miners during the California Gold Rush.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Prospectors Still Prowl the Hills for Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses how the California gold rush still inspires many individuals who continue searching for gold hoping to someday strike it rich.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Rivals in the Newspaper Field

For Students 9th - 10th
This article from the Sacramento Bee discusses the rise of journalism during the California gold rush. Many journalists left their jobs and headed west to cover this great event.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Boring Diet Gave Miners Appetite for Dining

For Students 9th - 10th
This site discusses the eating habits of many of the miners during the California gold rush.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Sacramento Was Gateway to Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the growth and importance of Sacramento as a mining town in the California Gold Rush. From a larger site from the Sacramento Bee.

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