USA HISTORY

MANIFEST DESTINY 1806 1855

ELECTION OF 1848 AND THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Some store owners became rich selling gold prospectors their supplies.
A
True
B
False
C
Either A or B
D
None of the above
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The store and business owners who sold supplies to the miners often became wealthier than the miners. They were able to sell items at very high prices and the miners were willing to pay. Sam Brannan was a San Francisco merchant who spread news of the discovery throughout San Francisco.

Detailed explanation-2: -Sam Brannan was the great beneficiary of this new found wealth. Prices increased rapidly and during this period his store had a turnover of $150, 000 a month (almost $4 million in today’s money). Josiah Belden was another man who made his fortune from the gold rush. He owned a store in San Jose.

Detailed explanation-3: -The first person or civilization to discover gold is the Ancient Egyptians. They mined gold in Nubia around 2450 BC. An Egyptian alchemist named Zosimos was the first to find pure gold (24 centuries before Columbus reached the Americas).

There is 1 question to complete.