Routes to Routes to the the

Gold FieldsGold Fields

On January 28, 1848 James Marshall discovers gold at John Sutter’s mill in Coloma.

Gold! Gold from the American River!

May 1848—When news of the gold discovery and samples of gold reached San Francisco and other

towns in California, people headed to the mountains.Challenge #1: If gold was discovered in January,

why did it take so long for news to spread?

Challenge #2: What countries did the Argonauts come from?

From where did they come?

China

Australia

Germany

British Isles

France

Peru

Chile

Mexico

Eastern United States

Oregon Territo

ry

How shall we travel?

Three main routes: Cape Horn Isthmus of Panama Overland

Sea Route—Cape Horn

Argonauts traveled by ship south along the Atlantic coast of the United States,

The ship then sailed north along the Pacific coast to San Francisco Bay where the passengers would disembark.

around the southern tip of South America (Cape Horn) and then into the Pacific Ocean.

Challenge #3: What dangers did the Argonauts face traveling by sea along the Cape Horn route to

California?

Took 5 to 8 months

Sea Route—Cape Horn

Journey of 18,000 nautical miles

Dangers—Overcrowding Challenge #4: Why would over-selling passage on

a ship be dangerous?

Dangers—Disease

Scurvy

Cholera

Dangers—Cape Horn

Courtesy of National Maritime Museum, London

By Land and Sea—Isthmus of Panama

Argonauts that wanted a faster route would sail to the Isthmus of Panama and the port town of Chagres.

Chagres

From there they traveled by small boat up the Chagres River and then rode mules through the jungle to the other side of the isthmus.

Once they arrived in Panama City Argonauts had to wait for a ship to sail them up the Pacific coast to San Francisco Bay.

By Land and Sea—Isthmus of Panama

By 1850 the journey took only 6 to 8 weeks.Challenge #5: What dangers did the Argonauts face during their journey across the Isthmus of Panama?

Yellow Fever

Malaria

Dangers—Disease

Land Route

Council Bluffs

St. Joseph

Independence

Fort Bridger

Sacramento

Mormon TrailOregon Trail

California

Trail

Salt Lake City

Fort Hall

Oxen, Mules or Horses?

Challenge #6: What dangers did the Argonauts meet along the overland trail?

Dangers—mountains and rivers

Dangers—Accidents

Dangers—Disease

Asiatic Cholera:Caused by infected drinking

water

The Gold Fields!

Challenge #7: What challenges did this sudden increase in population bring to California’s

economy and government?