MANIFEST DESTINY 1806 1855
ELECTION OF 1848 AND THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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Most miners were employed by large companies to dig tunnels.
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The population grew slowly over a number of decades.
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Most miners became rich after working in the mines.
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The population increased greatly over a few years.
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Detailed explanation-1: -The significant increase in population and infrastructure allowed California to qualify for statehood in 1850, only a few years after it was ceded by Mexico, and facilitated U.S. expansion to the American West.
Detailed explanation-2: -Americans soon began “rushing” to California by land and sea before the “easy” gold disappeared. Between 1850 and 1860, California’s population grew from 92, 597 to 379, 994-a 310 percent increase!
Detailed explanation-3: -The discovery of the precious metal at Sutter’s Mill in January 1848 was a turning point in global history. The rush for gold redirected the technologies of communication and transportation and accelerated and expanded the reach of the American and British Empires.