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Gold found in California
Gold was found by James Marshall close to Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California.later in March, there were published reports of gold discoveries, though many people doubted. President James Polk confirms this later in the year. -
Reports of gold in the East coast
The New York Herald reports of potential gold deposits in California. -
First shipment of gold.
A shipment of gold heads for the US Mint, valued at about 500,000. -
49'ers head West for gold
About 300,000 people head West after waiting for spring. It included mostly men and many were migrants. In 1849, there was more than ten million dollars worth of gold mined. -
California starts statehood process
California drafts a state constitution and ask to be admitted to the Union. -
Tax imposed on mining
California creates the Foreign Miners Tax, which costs twenty dollars a month to continue mining. This causes more than 15,000 miners to leave. -
Profit of gold/Population growth
California mines make a profit of 41 million dollars and San Francisco doubles in population. -
California becomes a state
California is admitted to the Union, also known as the Compromise of 1850. -
Miner's earnings fall
There is a decrease in wages, dropping $6 dollars a day. -
Word of gold around the world.
The news of the Gold Rush reaches across the Pacific Ocean, and brings about 20,000 Chinese to California. -
Hydraulic Mining
Hydraulic mining was invented by Edward Matteson by using a high-pressure hose to mine the gold on hillsides. -
Gold Rush ends
Many more complicated ways of mining gold had been invented by the end of the Gold Rush, which had a huge impact on California as a state.