12. The New West and the Free North, 1840

Quiz for Analyzing Historical Evidence: The Gold Rush

Select the best answer for each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

Question 12.6

1. How did Americans living on the East Coast get to California during the Gold Rush if they did not want to, or could not afford to, travel by boat?

On a train from Chicago to San Francisco

On foot or in a covered wagon across the continent

Through Canada, riding on horseback

Through Oklahoma, led by a Native American guide

Question 12.7

2. According to James Marshall’s account of finding gold in 1848, which of the following is probably the reason Marshall urged his men to stay quiet about his discovery?

Marshall worried that the two pieces of gold he found in the river were not actually gold but iron pyrite, and wanted to have the gold certified first.

Since Marshall was a very private and withdrawn man, he worried that news of a gold discovery would bring thousands of unwelcome people to the area.

Marshall was prejudiced against the Mormon faith, and he wanted to keep the gold a secret from the Mormon soldiers nearby so they would not become rich.

The men needed to finish their job (building the sawmill) before they could go look for gold, and Marshall worried others would get to it first if word got out.

Question 12.8

3. What does Sarah Royce’s story suggest about the potential difficulties of traveling to California by covered wagon during the Gold Rush?

The cattle that pulled the wagons could die unexpectedly, forcing a family to abandon many of its supplies.

A wagon party could encounter chaotic and unruly Army troops along the way, and might be harassed by the soldiers.

Travelers might become the victims of theft if they encountered a group of desperate migrants who had run out of supplies.

The dead bodies of cattle might attract aggressive condors or vultures, which might try to attack living cattle, too.

Question 12.9

4. Daniel B. Woods argued that gold mining in the California Gold Rush was uniquely frustrating because, compared to other kinds of work, gold mining was extremely

tedious.

uncertain.

demeaning.

unfulfilling.

Question 12.10

5. These documents support which of the following historical arguments?

The wealth the Gold Rush offered to Americans was particularly attractive because John Marshall’s discovery occurred during the recession of 1847–1848.

American women found the journey west for the Gold Rush especially difficult because they were expected to care for their families while also searching for gold.

Both the journey to the Gold Rush in California and the work to find the gold were extremely difficult.