United States History Student Edition

G

Complete Your Inquiry EVALUATE SOURCES AND USE EVIDENCE Refer back to the Compelling Question and the Supporting Questions you developed at the beginning of the lesson. 1. Analyzing Perspectives What do these sources reveal about how the Gold Rush affected California, the country as a whole, and the lives of Americans and immigrants? 2. Evaluating Based on these sources, do you think the Gold Rush was a positive experience for the United States and Americans? Explain your thinking. 3. Gathering Sources Which sources helped you answer the Supporting Questions and the Compelling Question? Which sources, if any, challenged what you thought you knew when you first created your Supporting Questions? What information do you still need in order to answer your questions? What other viewpoints would you like to investigate? Where would you find that information? 4. Evaluating Sources Identify the sources that helped answer your Supporting Questions. How reliable is each source? How would you verify the reliability of each source? COMMUNICATE CONCLUSIONS 5. Collaborating With a partner, discuss how these sources provide insight into why people migrate, or move to live in another place. Discuss both what pushes people to leave the place where they live and what attracts people to a new place. Use the graphic organizer that you created at the beginning of the lesson to help you. Share your conclusions with the class. TAKE INFORMED ACTION Publicizing the Contributions of Chinese Americans Chinese immigrants Americans have made many important contributions to our country, excelling as scientists, architects, politicians, artists, and sports figures. Each May, the United States celebrates Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Research the contributions of a Chinese American and prepare a short presentation on that person. Share your presentations as school-wide announcements each week during the month of May. to California faced a great deal of discrimination. Since then, Chinese

Gold-Mining Supplies James H. Carson came to California as a soldier. In 1848, he caught “gold fever” and became a prospector. His book Early Recollections of the Mines (1852) is part memoir and part guidebook for those wanting to become gold miners. PRIMARY SOURCE: MEMOIR “ The first scales for weighing gold were made by taking a piece of pine wood for the beam, pieces of sardine boxes for scales, and silver dollars for weights. Gold dust could be purchased in any quantity at four and five dollars per ounce in the diggings, and for six and eight dollars in the coast towns. . . . Tools for mining purposes were scarce and high—a pick, pan and shovel ranging from $50 to $200; butchers’ knives from $10 to $25, and cradle-washing machines from $200 to $800 each. Provisions were worth $2 per lb., woollen shirts $50 each, boots and shoes from $25 to $150 per pair. ” — from Early Recollections of the Mines EXAMINE THE SOURCE 1. Determining Context Why does Carson explain how to make a scale? What does this explanation tell you about this time? 2. Drawing Conclusions What is the significance of the tool prices that Carson relates?

Carson, James H., -1853. Early recollections of the mines, and a description of the great Tulare valley. [Tarrytown, N.Y., Reprinted, W. Abbatt, 1931] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/31011889/.

350