December 5, 1848: President James K. Polk announces gold was found in California скачать в хорошем качестве

December 5, 1848: President James K. Polk announces gold was found in California

On December 5, 1848, in his fourth annual address to Congress, President James Knox Polk confirmed that gold had been found in California earlier that year. Newspapers on the east coast had published of gold on the American River since the summer, but the rumors now had confirmation from the president. This led to the world rushing in for what was the largest migration in human history, up to this point, the California Gold Rush. Gold was found by James Marshall, the head carpenter constructing John Sutter’s sawmill on the south fork of the American River in what is today Coloma, on January 24, 1848. The gold Marshall found that day was later given to the United States military and was sent east to Washington DC for true confirmation. The Gold Rush came at an almost predictable time. The idea of "manifest destiny," the belief that Americans were destined to expand across North America was prevalent, coupled with economic depression in the United States drove hundreds of American immigrants overland to California and Oregon even before they were U.S. territories. People sought opportunity in what they thought was “new land,” despite already being inhabited by thousands of Native Americans since time immemorial. While the gold brought people from all over the world and every walk of life looking for opportunity and fortune, it was at the expense of another people that would have their way of life destroyed. The Gold Rush gave justification for further colonization of California and the American West. In this video, Jared discussed the history and context of Polk’s announcement and this day in history. #onthisday #todayinhistory #suttersfort #history #museum #sacramento #goldrush #gold #castateparks #youtubehistory