Passage 1

The California Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush began with the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill. This event occurred in January of 1848. Within a few years, tens of thousands of people moved to California in search of gold. Both men and women hoped to find lots of gold in California. Most men worked in the gold mines and gold fields. Women worked at laundry services or took jobs as cooks. As the population of California increased, roads, schools, and churches were built to meet the needs of the new settlers. Agriculture also developed in order to feed all of the people. By 1860, millions of dollars in gold had been discovered, and California's population had reached 380,000.


Passage 2

Gold Mining Letter

September 20, 1851

Dear Molly,

Here, at Rich Bar, men live in small homes along the river. These men moved to California to mine for gold. There are only a few women. Like me, they came with their husbands or fathers and earn money by cooking meals and washing laundry. In the fall of 1850, many of the men who were here at the time found a lot of gold. Some made good decisions and used their gold wisely. However, some did not make good decisions. In the end, this is the common story of a gold miner.

With love,
Louise

1
Select ALL the correct answers.
Which two ideas do the passages share?
Some people did not make good decisions with their gold.
New buildings were constructed to serve the needs of settlers.
Women worked as cooks and laundry washers near the gold mines.
People moved to California to find gold.
The Gold Rush led to the development of agriculture in California.