The Economy of California Changed from Cattle Keeping and Hunting to a Mixed Economy Of

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GOLD RUSH

Gold Rush

Name

Institution

The arrival of the new people in California had many sudden effects in the United States. The discovery of gold and the increasing rout to the mines reduced California’s Indian population in 1845 from around 150,000 to 30,000 in the decade. This happened due to diseases, starvation, murder, and displacement. The crimes committed by the whites against the native people were never punished, and in most cases, they were regretted (Putnam, 1984).

The economy of California changed from cattle keeping and hunting to a mixed economy of mining, agriculture, and transportation. This was a transformation from the Mexican ranches the native people enjoyed doing. The industrial imports in California improved economies in developed countries and pulled along excess population from the areas that were lagging behind in hard times like the European countries that experienced counter-revolutions after 1848.

The discovery of gold established California’s modern economy which funded the credit system that led to victory in the civil war. The credit system ensured and stimulated the building of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860’s. This led to increased expansion of the U.S in the west regions which resulted in the complete destruction of the Californian Indians and the downfall of communities along the west immigration routes (Mann, 1984).

Gold Rush wealth and population rise led to a significant improvement in transportation between California and the East Coast. In 1855 the Panama Railway which was spanning the Isthmus of Panama was finished. There were steamships which were owned by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company that began regular service from San Francisco to Panama. People and goods could be transported by the train across the Isthmus and steamships headed to the East Coast.

The environment of the countryside of California was damaged as the new settlers searched for gold. They used high-powered jets of water to remove hillsides in practice referred to as hydraulic mining and advanced mine shafts into the hills of Nevada Mountains. It affected the agriculture because the mining involved digging up rivers and producing the silt. It led to conflicts between the agricultural and mining industries (Clair, 1998).

References

Putnam, J., & Mann, R. (1984). After the Gold Rush: Society in Grass Valley and Nevada City, California, 1849-1870.The Western Historical Quarterly,15(2), 222.

St. Clair, D. (1998). The Gold Rush and the Beginnings of California Industry.California History,77(4), 185-208.