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On January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall, found gold in the tailrace of a lumber mill. https://www.history.com/news/the-enslaved-native-americans-who-made-the-gold-rush-possible
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Gold was discovered in California and many gold-seekers moved into California to find gold. This led to many Native Americans being forced off their lands and some being enslaved for gold mining. 24,000 - 27,000 Native Americans were taken for forced labor.
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Atleast 40,000 gold seekers had entered Native American territory.
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Ahwahneechees and the Chowchilla in the Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley lead a raid on the Fresno River post of James D. Savage in retaliation for being forced off their land.
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By 1850, most of the accessible gold had been collected.
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Native Americans started to be taken and forced to do labor. Especially mine gold.
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The Act for the Government and Protection of Indians was passed in California. One of the main things It stated was that "White persons or proprietors could apply to the Justice of Peace for the removal of Indians from lands in the white person's possession" and "Indians could not testify for or against whites" and "if Indians were convicted of stealing any valuable or livestock, they could receive any number of lashes (less than 25) and a fine of up to $200"
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The Mariposa War was a conflict between Native Americans and gold miners in Mariposa, California
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It allowed settlers to capture and use Native people as bonded workers, prohibited Native peoples' testimony against settlers, and allowed the adoption of Native children by settlers, often for labor purposes
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In retaliation, Mariposa County Sheriff James Burney led local militia in an indecisive clash with the natives near present-day Oakhurst, California.
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A group of settlers attacked a band of Wintu Indians in response to the killing of a citizen named J. R. Anderson. After his killing, the sheriff led a group of men to track down the Indians. Only three children survived the massacre that was against a different band of Wintu than the one that had killed Anderson.
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A posse of settlers attacked and burned a Tolowa rancheria at Yontocket, California, killing 450 Tolowa during a prayer ceremony.
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By the end of the gold rush, the Native American Population in California was at an all-time low.
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California's governor apologized for the cruel treatment of Native Americans during this era.
