The Gold Rush of 1849

What year was gold discovered at John Sutter’s sawmill in California?

• 1847

• 1848

• 1849

• 1850

What nickname was given to the people who moved to California in 1849 to search for gold?

• Gold Seekers

• Forty-niners

• Pioneers

• Boomers

Which of the following countries did immigrants NOT come from to search for gold in California?

• China

• Mexico

• Canada

• The East (USA)

What were the rapidly growing towns created by the forty-niners called?

• Gold Towns

• Boomtowns

• Mining Villages

• Sutter Towns

What types of businesses were opened in boomtowns to support the new residents?

• Schools and Libraries

• Restaurants, Hotels, and General Stores

• Factories and Warehouses

• Banks and Post Offices

What was the main reason people rushed to California in 1849?

• To find new land for farming

• To strike it rich by finding gold

• To escape from wars

• To explore new territories

How much did California’s population increase in the five years following the discovery of gold?

• It doubled

• It tripled

• It increased ten times

• It stayed the same

What happened to most of the forty-niners who did not get rich from gold?

• They returned home

• They stayed in California to find jobs or start businesses

• They moved to another state

• They became farmers

What was John Sutter’s initial reaction to the discovery of gold at his sawmill?

• He celebrated and told everyone

• He tried to keep it a secret

• He sold his sawmill

• He moved to another state

Which of the following best describes a "Boomtown"?

• A town that grows slowly over many years

• A town that experiences a sudden increase in population

• A town that is abandoned quickly

• A town that is built for farming