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Chile’s Great Floods
“There were aftershocks for several weeks and three tsunamis, each one larger than the last” (cnn.com) “That was the year of the floods, which were immortalized in schoolchildren’s textbooks and in their grandparents’ memories. . . .a series of minor temblors, which came like God’s wrath, finished destroying everything . . .” (Allende 38-39). Allende uses a simile comparing God's wrath to the tsunamis, which provides lots of imagery. Sketch is from cnn.com -
Opium Wars
“In spring 1839 the Chinese government confiscated and destroyed more than 20,000 chests of opium that were warehoused at Guangzhou by British merchants.” (britannica.com). “In 1839, when the Opium War between China and Great Britain broke out, Tao Chi’en was sixteen years old” (Allende, 200) Allende characterizes Tao Chi’en, and provides lots of information on what led Tao Chi'en to where he is now. Photo by Ian Morris of The New York Times -
British Colony Arrives in Valparaiso
“The Royal Navy approached Chile to see if they could station their South America Station (renamed Pacific Station from 1837) at the Chilean port of Valparaiso” (britishempire.co) “And that was the state of things at the end of 1845 when the commercial maritime fleet of Great Britain assigned a chaplain in Valparaiso” (Allende, 76). Allende loves to give historical context, and explains that Britain arrived in Valparaiso for mainly for missionaries. Photo by britishempire.co -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
“By its terms, Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory, including the present-day states California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming” (archives.gov). “The yellow pellet that unleashed the madness was found nine days after the war between Mexico and the United States had ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo” (Allende, 145). Allende describes gold as "unleashing madness" throughout the country. Photo by archives.gov -
49ers Arrive in San Francisco
“In 1849, approximately 40,000 people poured in from one sea route or another. Most of these came to the port of San Francisco, once known as Yerba Buena, and the tiny town boomed" (loc.gov). “Gold fever left no one unaffected: smiths, carpenters, teachers, doctors, soldiers, fugitives from the law…” (270). Allende gives many examples of people who came in looking for gold. Many were successful, others were not. Photo by Frank Marry, Legends of America -
California is Admitted as a State
“California was admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850, as the 31st state" (census.gov). “In September of 1850, Tao was present at the noisy patriotic celebration when California became the newest state in the Union” (386). Allende describes the celebration as noisy and patriotic, giving us a glimpse at what being at the celebration in person could've felt like. Photo by caparks.gov -
San Francisco's Economy and Population Booms
“San Francisco in the parlance of 1850 meant the cluster of houses between Telegraph Hill and El Rincon. The Presidio was reduced to two dilapidated adobe buildings, in which was quartered a United States military company" (sfmuseum.org). “By that time there were more than 100,000 argonauts . . .” (329). By stating that there were more than 100,000 argonauts, Allende gets the readers to imagine how big the population of SF increased. Photo by Smithsonian Magazine -
SF Committees of Vigilance Were Formed
“The San Francisco Committees of Vigilance of 1851 and 1856 were formed when crime became widespread in the city of San Francisco in the wake of the Gold Rush" (Online Archive of California). “In March, Eliza quietly turned eighteen, still waiting for Joaquin to show up at their house one day” (374). Allende writes that Eliza had a "quiet" 18th birthday without anybody to celebrate it with, and she still had not given up on finding Joaquin. Photo by foundsf.org