The California Gold Rush Book

Describes the discovery of gold in California, the rush to California to look for gold, establishment of mining towns, the outbreak of criminal activity, and other aspects of ...

Denise Daley - Children's Literature

At the urging of then President Polk, almost 90,000 people from all over the world rushed to California to find the abundant gold that they believed lay in the streets. The year was 1849 and the gold seekers became known as "forty-niners." Panning for gold was a grueling job that required much patience and yielded little gold. At its conclusion ten years later, the California gold rush had helped to make the United States a leading producer of gold and it also hastened settlement of the West. This informative book describes the development of California during this influential ten-year period. The creation of overland routes to California as well as the growth of mines and mining towns is described in terms that are easy to understand. Numerous photographs help the reader to better visualize life during this important era in American history. The book contains a detailed index, glossary, and timeline, as well as recommended book and Internet sources. It is part of "The American West" series. 2003, Mason Crest Publishers,