Facts About Gold
Gold is a very special metal because...
a. it will not tarnish or rust
b. it is soft and beautiful
c. it conducts heat and electricity very well
d. All of the above
D. All of the above
Gold was discovered in California by...
James Marshall
This method involved a special type of dish where you would fill it with gravel or dirt, lower it in the water, and swish it around.
Gold Panning
This route involved taking a wagon across the country.
Overland Route
Which of these were NOT a main food/drink eaten by those in the mining camps?
a. salt pork
b. beans
c. burgers
d. coffee/jamoka
e. eggs
c. burgers
Gold is valuable because...
a. it is rare and people want it
b. it is rare
c. people want it
d. none of the above
A. it is rare and people want it
What was the name of the road agent who became famous for robbing wagons of Wells Fargo gold? (He also wrote poetry!)
Black Bart
This method involved digging holes as deep as 150 feet into the ground to look for gold.
Coyote Mining
This route was by sea, sailing around the the tip of South America. The dangerous journey lasted 6 to 8 months.
Cape Horn Route
Which of these was NOT a form of entertainment at the mining camps and boomtowns?
a. gambling
b. professional entertainers performing plays
c. sports
d. dancing
c. sports
Which "gold test" is NOT a way to test for gold?
a. Hit it with a hammer and see if it flattens
b. Use mercury to separate it from other materials
c. Blow it up with dynamite
c. Blow it up with dynamite
Who owned the saw mill where gold was first discovered?
John Sutter
This method involved using high powered hoses that shot streams of water against the sides of a mountain. This method ruined the environment and was banned by the end of the 1800s.
This sea route was shorter than the route around the tip of South America. They sailed to Central America, marched through the jungle to the other side, and took another ship up to California.
Panama Route
What was the punishment for important crimes like grand theft, horse stealing, and murder?
Hanging
Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill on the American River in what year?
1848
What was the LAST name of the brothers who became rich for selling mining supplies to 49ers? They walked the streets of San Francisco yelling, "There is gold in the hills!"
Brannan
This method resembled something a baby is rocked in. Sand and gravel would be piled on top and water would be poured over it. You would rock this device and the gold and sand would fall through the holes to the bottom.
Which one of these was NOT a disease that was commonly caught by many of those traveling to California?
a. Malaria
b. Polio
c. Cholera
b. Polio
What group of people was treated better than all the others in the mining camp?
white/English speaking miners
Which of these is NOT true about gold?
a. Gold can be easily formed into different shapes, making it popular with jewelry makers
b. Gold hardens and becomes brittle when put in cold water
c. Gold does not rust or decay
d. Gold reflects light, and is a good conductor of heat and electricity
b. Gold hardens and becomes brittle when put in cold water
Who was the person who became rich for designing and selling jeans? (Hint: These jeans are still available today!)
Levi Strauss
This method involved a wooden device that could be 12-25 feet long with two sides and a bottom. The miners positioned it so the water could run through it. They shoveled in the dirt, and the water washed away the sand and gravel, leaving the gold trapped in the riffles
Long Tom or Sluice Box
Which route involved difficult terrain, dangerous animals, Native American raids, cholera, and the risk of running out of food and water?
Overland Route
What type of government did the miners have?