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John Marshall Discovers Gold
John Marshall and his men were working at Sutter's Mill when a gold nugget was found. John Sutter, the owner of the sawmill tried to keep the discovery a secret so his workers would not leave his property in search of gold. However, the secret got out. -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo makes California a territory of the United States. -
San Francisco Newspaper Reports Gold
For the first time, a newspaper in San Francisco reports the discovery of gold in the Sierra. Many people remained skeptical of the report. -
Gold News Spreads East
San Francisco's California Star newspaper prints a six-page spread distributed in the east describing the gold mines in California as "immensely rich". -
Samual Brannon's Store Booms
In the first six weeks following the arrival of gold, Sammuel Brannan earns $36,000- the equivalent of $750,000 today- in profits from his general store, selling miners picks, pans, and shovels. -
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Gold Seekers Travel to California
45,000 gold seekers travel to California by land and 40,000 others travel to California by ship. Everyone wanted to strike it rich! -
Foreign Miner's Tax Passed
The California legislature passes the Foreign Miner's Tax, which says that every miner not from the United States must pay a tax of $20 a month. -
California Becomes a State
California becomes the thirty-first state. -
Foreign Miner's Tax Repealed
The Foreign Miner's Tax is repelaed due to violent protests.
