Gold Miners

Gold rush began in 1849 in California

about 15,000 people in 1848

By 1855 there is 300,000

• brings many different cultures Europeans, Chinese, Mexicans all pulled in by the prospect of Gold

• False stories spread over false rumours

• Most miners never were successful and paid only $3 a day for hard work of working for mining companies

• Mining towns

• rough tough

• isolation from family

• no law and order

• Prostitution

• Gambling in Saloon

• Claim jumping- taking other mines claim of land

• Racism- white superiority was an idea of a time there was a foreign miner tax which the Chinese had to pay but refused and were driven out by Vigilantes

• Sickness and death

• No hygiene, poor diet, not cooking properly

• Gangs- Gambling, brothels people tried to control

• Police not present or outnumbered

• Miners take law and order into their own hands and made Miners courts

• Vigilance committees introduced by rich businessmen afraid of gangs taking money idea spread to miner camps who lynch ‘bad people’

• Sheriffs and marshals given too much land to cover and not paid greatly and often bribed