Happy Carantures (8/8)
When the chance of a gaze launched the gold rush
In 1848, an American carpenter saw a gold nugget in a Californian river. Two years and thousands of researchers later, California joined the United States.
California saw thousands of people arriving in search of gold – as here in 1852.
IMAGO/GRANGER Historical Picture Archive
- The discovery of gold by James Marshall in the American River transforms California.
- Journalist Samuel Brannan secretly takes advantage of the information to get rich quickly.
- More than 300,000 gold researchers invaded the region between 1848 and 1855.
- Swiss entrepreneur John Sutter loses all his Californian colonial empire.
A “happy” chance? In any case for the United States of America. Because if James W. Marshall, a carpenter working for the Swiss merchant John Sutter, had not seen a golden nugget in a Californian river, the state of California may not exist today. From the gold rush to the final conquest of the West, this surprise shaped for good the territory of the world’s leading power.
Snowball and gold rush
James Wilson Marshall, carpenter for Switzerland John Sutter before discovering a golden nugget in a river.
Imago/Granger Historical Picture Archive
Let’s go back to the beginning of 1848. James K. Polk signed at the White house And his federal government extends to 29 states (against 50 today). Two years earlier, the United States sparked the American-Mexican war by declaring the entry of Texas, Mexican territory, in the Union. After a victory for the Yankees, the latter earn a huge territory of 1.36 million km2 (Almost all of the current southwest of the country).
California is not yet a state. Pioneers are installed here and there and reign supreme in a region without faith or law. Since 1839, a Swiss has also colonized a small part of this territory. In his “New Helvetia”, John Sutter takes care of large -scale agricultural land. But one day, one of his carpenters distinguishes a sparkle in the American River, not far from the sawmill of his boss. A golden nugget.
For caution (and surely a little greed), John Sutter keeps the new secret. But it nevertheless pulled in the surroundings, until reaching the ears of Samuel Brannana journalist from San Francisco.
The latter then buys all of the equipment necessary for the extraction of gold at miles in the round before making the new public. Legend has it that he would have run in the streets of San Francisco, flourishing: “Gold!” There is gold in the American River! ” While the information arrived in New York in August 1848, Samuel Brannan was already rich as Crésus and the first researchers are there. And after the confirmation of President Polk at the congress in December of that year, the air call is final.
The American dream is born in California
The Swiss pioneer John Sutter, master of a Californian colony before finishing ruined.
Imago/Granger Historical Picture Archive
In a few months, more than 100,000 researchers land. The population of San Francisco went from 1,000 inhabitants in 1848 to 25,000 permanent residents in 1850. In 1855, it is estimated that more than 300,000 people made the trip. John Sutter, formerly rich and respected, finds himself ruined, his workers having deserted after having contracted Gold fever. Its land, delivered to squatters and bandits, no longer exist. It is the end of a Swiss hope in the region, and the start of the American dream for pioneers.
Prospectors during the gold rush in California.
Imago/Granger Historical Picture Archive
Faced with this lightning colonization, California joined the Union in 1850, which led to the stride the tragic collapse of the Amerindian populations of the territory. All this after a simple look in a river. So, a “happy” chance? Maybe not.
“Latest news”
Do you want to stay at the top of the info? “24 hours” offers you two meetings a day, not to miss anything of what is happening in your canton, in Switzerland or in the world.
Other newsletters
Did you find an error? Please report it to us.
