Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: The American West: The Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the impact of the California Gold Rush of 1848 which brought hundreds of thousands of gold-seeking migrants to the region. This massive influx of people to a place with little law enforcement and no infrastructure led to...
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: The California Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the events that led to the California Gold Rush, the lives of the miners, the discrimination faced by Chinese immigrant miners and African Americans, the women who mostly stayed behind when their husbands went west as well as...
Interactive
Other

Learn4good: Gold Miner

For Students K - 1st
Online learning game in which players mine for gold while learning addition and money value.
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.
Article
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: How Is Gold Formed?

For Students 2nd - 8th
Useful information about the precious metal gold, how it is processed, lode and placer mining, and other interesting facts.
Handout
Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento Bee: Merchant Digs More Than Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
This short article discusses Heinrich Schliemann's gold mining experience, including the death of his brother, before discovering the lost city of Troy during his archeological period.
Graphic
Curated OER

Hydraulic Mining

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides pictures and information about hydraulic mining (using jets of water to break down gold-laden gravel banks) for gold.
Graphic
Curated OER

Hydraulic mining.jpg, 0 Bytes

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides pictures and information about hydraulic mining (using jets of water to break down gold-laden gravel banks) for gold.
Graphic
Curated OER

Hart Stereoview #61, Hydraulic Mining

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides pictures and information about hydraulic mining (using jets of water to break down gold-laden gravel banks) for gold.
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: Streams Poisoned by Mercury

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush site discusses the damage mercury used in gold mining has done to California's environment
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Mining Boom

For Students 5th - 8th
The allure of getting rich quick by finding gold or silver was just a dream for most prospectors. Read about the gold and silver rushes that usually ended up enriching the mining industry, not the miner. Find out about the make-up of the...
Graphic
Other

Alaska Gold Rush Centennial Photographs

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource has posted numerous gold rush images with a brief description. Click on the various subjects to view historic photos of these early Alaskan towns and folks.
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.
Interactive
Other

Object of History: The Gold Nugget

For Students 9th - 10th
Audio-pictorial overview of the story of the California gold rush.
Website
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Land of Golden Dreams: California in the Gold Rush

For Students 9th - 10th
A rich site on the California gold rush, 1848-1858. An online exhibit traces the gold rush using primary sources, a teacher page gives lesson plans from 4-12 and a kid's page offers further online adventures. Takes a long time to load.
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
US National Archives

Our Documents: Treaty of Fort Laramie(1868)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read and view a copy of the complete text of the treaty of Fort Laramie which recognized the Black Hills as part of the Sioux Reservation. Accompanying documentary explains how the treaty was broken as a result of the discovery of gold...
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: Some Found Riches, Many Found Themselves

For Students 9th - 10th
This site discusses how many miners never made it rich, but had an adventure of a lifetime during the California gold rush.
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.
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.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Giant Gold Machines Hard Rock Mining

For Students 9th - 10th
This page gives a brief explanation of extracting hard rock quartz. This was a labor intensive process that was often dangerous, but necessary to find gold.
Website
Oakland Museum of California

Giant Gold Machines Gold Dredges

For Students 9th - 10th
This page gives a brief explanation of extracting minerals by the use of gold dredges. This was a process that sped up the process of finding gold.

Other popular searches