lesson 2. explorers from spain and settlers seeking gold helped shape the west
TRANSCRIPT
Spanish Exploration◦ Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo◦ Coast of California
Junipero Serra◦ Franciscan priest◦ Set up missions◦ Built first CA mission in 1769
Became San Diego
Russian Settlement◦ Fur trading post in CA, Fort Ross◦ Claimed much of Alaska
British Settlement◦ Fur trading posts along Pacific coast (OR & WA)
Wagon Trains◦ 1841-marked beginning of settlement◦ 1846-1848: War over Southwest between U.S. &
Mexico◦ U.S. won and claimed CA and the territories
Sutter’s Mill◦John Sutter moved to CA in 1839◦Settled near the Sierra Nevada◦Had a mill built by James Marshall near
the American River◦Marshall spotted gold ◦Thousands of people heard and came to
CA◦Began the Gold Rush
Prospectors◦ Person who searches for valuable minerals
Gold Rush Prospector Travel◦ Overland from eastern U.S.◦ By sea from East Coast to West Coast◦ Sea route was a 15,000 mile trip around South
America◦ Most arrived by 1849 (forty-niners)
San Francisco◦Port town where travelers arrived by sea
◦Forty-niners passed through◦By 1849, city grew to 100,000 people
Effects of Gold Rush◦ Boom Towns
Grew where minerals were discovered Miners and merchants came Denver, Colorado, & Carson City
◦ Railroads Built linking East Coast to West Coast Cities along railroad grew as people moved west
◦ Ghost Towns Deserted towns where minerals were once mined Attract tourists
Cattle drives◦Cowhands drove herds across the west◦From ranches in MT, WY, NV, UT◦To towns along the railroad “cow towns” were rowdy and
sometimes dangerous
Legend of the “Wild West” from colorful and sometimes violent characters
William “Buffalo Bill” Cody◦Travelling show formed in 1883 Featured trick riding, rifle shooting,
western wildlife West grew more tame by 1890s
◦Songs, stories, and movie keep legend alive
Russian territory◦ Used mainly for fur trading◦ Sold to U.S. in 1867
$7 million, or 2 cents/acre Wanted for fur trapping
Discovery of gold◦ 1880s and 1890s in parts of AK and Canada◦ Prospectors travelled to AK◦ cities- Fairbanks and Juneau grew quickly
Military Influence◦ World War II military bases◦ Airfields & highways boosted transportation and
business development after the war
Discovery of Oil◦ Oil deposits discovered in 1968◦ On coast of Artic Ocean ◦ 800 mile-long pipeline brings oil to Valdez
Loaded onto ships & sent to ports around the world