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California Military History: California and the Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
Although California was far away from any fighting in the Civil War, it sent troops to support the Union. Read about why California was so important to the Union in these two articles from the California State Military Museum. Hyperlinks...
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: The Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
This comprehensive site from American Experience examines many facets of the Gold Rush in California. Read a transcript of the film, find out about the many individuals and groups of people who arrived in California to try to strike it...
Lesson Plan
University of California

History Project: Debate Over the California Constitutional Convention, 1878 1879

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson on immigration, conflict and nativism in which students examine primary source documents to evaluate public policy and attitudes towards Chinese immigrants in California, 1878-1879.
Primary
Oakland Museum of California

California's Untold Stories: Silver and Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a virtual tour of the mining of silver and gold in California through excellent photos and facts.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: His Path Back to Japan Was Paved With Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses the life of Manjiro Nakahama, a Japanese immigrant who made enough money during the gold rush in California that he was able to return home to Japan.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: 'Real Women' Who Defied Stereotype

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses the role of the women during the gold rush in California. They served in a variety of roles and many made more than miners. This page tells their stories.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Justice Wasn't Pretty but It Was Quick

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site contains information on justice and law in California during the gold rush. Many felons lost their lives at the end of a rope.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

Gold Rush: Culture Took Hold Despite Tough Crowds

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource contains information on the development of culture in California during the gold rush. Culture developed in spite of the harsh conditions and tough people.
Website
Books in the Classroom

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: In Plain Sight

For Students 3rd - 5th
Carol Hurst uses one of her own books, "In Plain Sight," as a basis for this lesson plan on the California gold rush. In addition to discussion questions about the book, Hurst provides ten activities designed to help students explore...
Website
The History Cat

The History Cat: Westward Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you can learn about the Oregon Trail, Donner Party, the California Gold Rush, and life as a pioneer through text, images, video, and quotes.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: California's Little Known Role in the American Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
Though far from the main fighting, California made an outsized contribution to the Union victory, mostly in the form of gold and troops. California proved pivotal to the Union war effort, propping up the economy with its vast gold...
Handout
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: James Wilson Marshall (1810 1885)

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of James Marshall who discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, which led to the California Gold Rush.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento Bee: Timeline of John Sutter

For Students 9th - 10th
John Sutter was the unwitting lynchpin in the California Gold Rush. Read the time line of events that show how he suffered for that discovery.
Primary
Other

Ailello Studios: The Land of Glittering Dreams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn some interesting facts about the California Gold Rush through images, personal stories and other writings.
Handout
State Library of North Carolina

N Cpedia: Gold Mining in the Uwharries

For Students 9th - 10th
In the early decades of the 1800s, the southern Piedmont's gold mines attracted prospectors, investors, and miners. Tar Heel gold had first been found in 1799 on John Reed's farm in Cabarrus County, several miles west of the Uwharrie...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Early California History: An Overview

For Students 9th - 10th
Table of Contents of an easy-to-understand history of California ranging from the first peoples to the turn of the century and covers the topics of the Missions, the discovery of gold, the towns and the cities.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Law, Order and Justice for Some Discrimination

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents information about the culturally diverse mining towns in California during the time of the gold rush and the treatment of minorities.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Prospecting: Chinese Placer Mining

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents information about Chinese miners in California and the prejudice they suffered.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Gold Rush: Silver and Gold: Chinese Man

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents information about the Chinese miners who came to California during the gold rush period of American history and faced discrimination and hostility.
Primary
Oakland Museum of California

California's Untold Stories: Art of the Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
The Oakland Museum presents an exhibit of art that show the miners, mining towns, new cities, and people of the Gold Rush. Be sure to read the overview of the exhibit to get the historical background.
Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: The Journey

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the routes followed by those seeking the riches of California. Find out the advantages and hazards of each route.
Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: Changes

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the environmental impact the changing technology of gold mining inflicted on California and the economic impact on the miners.
Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: Collision of Cultures

For Students 9th - 10th
This page discusses the many different cultures that came to California during the gold rush.
Handout
Other

The Gold Rush: Despair

For Students 9th - 10th
This page discusses what happened to many of the gold miners when the gold ran out in California.

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