Impact of the Gold Rush on California

Question: What was the MAIN reason people migrated to California during the Gold Rush? (Hint: It wasn’t for the beets.)

• To find gold and become wealthy

• To escape cold weather

• To visit family

• To start farms

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CA.4.4.2.

Fact: The Gold Rush was a major event. Question: Which two California towns grew rapidly because of the Gold Rush? (Hint: Bears are not involved.)

• Los Angeles and San Diego

• Sacramento and San Francisco

• Fresno and Bakersfield

• Oakland and Santa Barbara

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CA.4.4.2.

Question: What is one product that became more common in California because of the Gold Rush? Fact: Only one answer is correct. False answers will not be tolerated. Choose wisely.

• Gold mining tools

• Computers

• Automobiles

• Televisions

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CA.4.4.2.

Fact: During the Gold Rush, which group most frequently engaged in economic battles with miners? Choose wisely.

• Shopkeepers

• Farmers

• Chinese immigrants

• Teachers

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CA.4.4.2.

Fact: The Gold Rush was basically a stampede for shiny rocks. Explain, using logic and beet-farming efficiency, how this led to a surge in businesses in California. False answers will be reported to Michael.

• People needed supplies, so many new stores and services opened to meet their needs.

• People stopped buying things, so businesses closed.

• Only gold was traded, so no businesses were needed.

• Businesses moved out of California.

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CA.4.4.2.

Question: How did the Gold Rush change the types of products consumed in California? False. People only bought gold jewelry? Wrong. People stopped buying anything? Ridiculous. People only bought land? Please. The correct answer is obvious: People began to buy more mining equipment and food supplies. Fact.

• People began to buy more mining equipment and food supplies.

• People only bought gold jewelry.

• People stopped buying anything.

• People only bought land.

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CA.4.4.2.

Question: Why did towns like Sacramento and San Francisco become important during the Gold Rush? False. The real reason: They were close to gold fields and became centers for trade and transportation. Fact.

• They were close to gold fields and became centers for trade and transportation. Fact.

• They had the best weather. False.

• They were the only towns in California. False.

• They were far from the gold fields. False.

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CA.4.4.2.

Question: What was one way the Gold Rush caused economic conflicts between different groups of people? FACT: Some groups were not allowed to mine or had to pay extra taxes. False: Everyone shared gold equally. False: There were no conflicts during the Gold Rush. False: Only one group lived in California. Identify the correct answer. This is not a joke. This is history. Beets are not involved.

• Some groups were not allowed to mine or had to pay extra taxes.

• Everyone shared gold equally.

• There were no conflicts during the Gold Rush.

• Only one group lived in California.

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CA.4.4.2.

Fact: You are a shopkeeper in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. What challenges might you face as the town grows rapidly? (Hint: This is not a beet farm.)

• Keeping enough supplies for the growing number of people and dealing with higher prices for goods. Classic supply and demand. False: Easy task.

• Having too few customers. False. There are people everywhere. Like ants at a picnic.

• Not being able to find gold. False. You’re a shopkeeper, not a gold digger. Literally.

• Having too much free time. False. You wish.

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CA.4.4.2.

Fact: You are a miner from another country during the Gold Rush. What economic problems might you experience, and how could you solve them? (False solutions will be eliminated.)

• You might have to pay extra taxes or face discrimination, so you could work together with others from your country to share resources and support each other. This is what a true leader would do. Fact.

• You would find gold easily and have no problems. False. That’s not how mining works.

• You would not need to buy any supplies. False. Supplies are essential. Even bears need supplies.

• You would not meet anyone from other countries. False. The Gold Rush was basically a global beet farm. Lots of people.

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CA.4.4.2.