Customer Reviews

The California Gold Rush: Would You Go for the Gold? (What Would You Do? (Enslow))

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In January 24, 1848, John Sutter made an amazing discovery, one that he would have preferred to stay secret, that would rock the United States. At Sutter's Mill, nearby a place we now refer to as Sacramento, he was finding gold nuggets in the water. His "big secret" soon got out and people began to flock to the area in hopes of getting rich quick. The gold rush was on and "gold fever" was rampant. People headed west in droves by any means they could. Some, who had more money, opted to go by ship while others "headed west by horse, mule and oxdrawn wagons." Some poor souls even went by foot.

The heaviest push for the California was in 1849. These people were dubbed the "49ers because of the year they moved." Many people died in the quest for gold and the west and other peoples, the American Indians, began to die right along with them. They were losing their lives to disease and oftentimes starved when the buffalo were slaughtered. Mining was hard work and soon the surface gold began to disappear. By 1850 "large companies began to take over much of the mining in California" and miners begrudgingly had to work for them. Lawlessness abounded and unscrupulous merchants gouged and took advantage of the situation. Did you know that "a single egg cost between three and five dollars?"

Merchants like Sam Brennan got rich fairly quickly. He would buy a gold pan for less than a quarter and sell it for twenty dollars. The Chinese began to arrive seeking their fortunes, but were often driven off their claims. Violence began to erupt and vigilantism was in full swing. Women came west even though it was "no place for a woman." People were branded, whipped and hung. The gold had run out. What would you do? "Would you . . . pack up and go home?"

This was a lively, fascinating book that I was anxious to read and it didn't disappoint me. This history of the California Gold Rush was clear, concise and well written. There is a resurgent interest in panning for gold and a new group of 49ers is now coming on board and the young reader will certainly be interested in the old 49ers. At the end of each chapter the reader is asked the question "what would you do?" and are given one or two options to ponder. This book is peppered with illustrations, photographs, reproduced advertisements, it has a timeline, words to know, an index and additional recommended book and internet resources. This book, one in a series of six, is an excellent choice for homeschool or classroom use!

This book maintains interest and is really, really good! I wish I could get it in paperback. I would like to have a class set but don't think I can. Too expensive. This book is interesting and tells the story of the California Gold Rush with humor and humanity.