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James Marshall finds gold
James Marshall was working to build a water pump in California and found a shiny metal in the river, which turned out to be gold. -
Gold Rush Begins
James Marshall tried to keep his discovery a secret, however word got out and by August there were 4000 gold mines in the area. -
First Gold is Shipped Out From California
The first shipments of gold is sent to a mint west of San Francisco, the ship carried over $500,000 worth of gold. -
49'ers
During the year of 1849, people from all over the world came to California in an attempt to become rich. -
Government is Formed
California was lawless and wild because of the large number of people arriving at one time. People attempted to set up a government to control the immigrants. -
San Francisco Becomes a Metropolis
San Francisco became the central city for mining towns. Buisness popped up all over the city to accommodate the gold miners. -
Great Fires of San Francisco
Four large fires swept through San Francisco, burning hundreds of businesses to the ground and killing thousnads of people. Eventually a fire station is built in order to prevent more fires. -
Compromise of 1850
California wanted to become an official state and joing the Union as a 'free state'. -
More Gold Shipments
The second shipment of gold to leave San Francisco carried 1.5 million dollars worth of gold. -
Gold Runs Out
Most of the gold on the surface was gone by the end of 1850, however men kept coming to California in a hope to lucky and find gold. -
Hydraulic Mining
Using machines to mine gold became a popular way to mine due to the fact that the machines could dig deep into the ground. Miners began to work for companies who owned hydraulic machinery. -
Gold Rush "Ends"
The rush of people to California in an attempt to find gold died down, and the gold output stabilized at about 45 million dollars a year. -
Hydraulic Mining Outlawed
A California judge outlawes hydraulic mining because it tore the land apart.