Gold Rush and its Effect on the California Society

The discovery of gold in 18th Century in California is believed to have laid the
foundation for the vibrant modern day State of California (the gold rush). Furthermore, the discovery
resulted in the immigration of people from different parts of the world with the intention of
creating wealth in the soonest time possible. Before then, not much was known of California
to other regions since it was a minor town occupied by Native Americans. A large number of
the immigrants originated from; America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. However, migration
of people in search of gold to California resulted in; an influx in male population affecting
gender balance, increased cross-cultural relations, increased economic growth, high instances
of ethnic tensions, and erosion of moral values.
One of the significant effect of the gold rush was the increase in gender imbalance
that resulted from influx in male population. In a week’s time, five hundred men in search for
the gold had arrived in the town of California. As a result, more bars to cater for the
increasing male population were established (Shirley Letter Second). Furthermore, it was
argued that gender and sex in California was dependent of the population organization; and
the large number of people flocking the state in search of gold were male youths (Hurtado
76). In this case, the increase in population in the golden state of California resulting from
male immigration resulted in a society characterized by high gender imbalance.
In addition, increase in cross-cultural relations was inevitable due to the influx of
population from different parts of the world. For instance, men working in the mines were
heard conversing in different languages, ranging from Spanish and French, others from

Indies, Greece, and Asia speaking in their native languages (Shirley Letter Fourteenth).
Relative to that, majority of people in the gold fields originated from Anglo-America,
Europe, China, and Latin integrated into the Indian populations and native Californios
(Hurtado 80). Therefore, interactions among people originating from as far as Europe, Asia,
and America was unavoidable both in the gold mines and in the town. The interaction of
these people from different cultural backgrounds resulted into a multicultural society
characterized by high instances of cultural interactions like intermarriages.
Due to the existence of a multicultural society, the constant depletion of gold in the
gold mine resulted to increase in race and ethnic tensions in the State of California. For
instance, there were loud chants proclaiming the attacks on Spaniards and it is believed that
the Americans carried on with their threats (Shirley Letter Eighteenth). In another case, there
were rumours that the Spaniards were planning an attack on Americans. In retaliation, the
Spaniards were arrested, expelled and their properties confiscated (Shirley Letter Nineteenth).
In this case, there were increased tension and fear of an attack from any side of the different
groups in the golden state.
In addition, there was an increase in gambling and prostitution associated with
immorality. In a span of four days, it is believed that a gambler had made away with
approximately four thousand dollars of gold miners’ money. It was also believed that being
poisoned to death was better that becoming a gambler (Shirley Letter Fifteenth). In addition,
due to the reduced number of women in relation to men as well as the accumulation of wealth
in the State of California, there was an influx in number of prostitutes from other regions of
the world (Hurtado 80). The women saw an opportunity for making money in California
considering the reduced ratio of women to men in the golden state and the amount of wealth
the male youths were making.

Furthermore, there were cases of racial and ethnic discrimination. For instance, white
men would abduct and rape innocent women of Indian descent without the fear of serious
consequences. This was because the California law provided that an Indian testimony only
could not be used in the trial of a white man (Hurtado 88). In another instance, Gamblers
caused fear among the population and it is believed that they even committed injustices to the
Spaniards of which the authorities turned a blind eye (Shirley letter Eighteenth). In this case,
there was extensive mistreatment of people of European and Asian origin by the Americans
for which justice was never served. This is an indication that the State of California exhibited
considerable levels of race and ethnic injustices.
The Gold Rush period of California exhibited an influx in male populations, an
increase in cross-cultural relations, high reported cases of ethnic tensions, moral decay, and
high instances of race and ethnic injustices. The influx of male youths resulted into a
population consisting of more males than females which created a gender imbalance. There
was also an increase in cross-cultural relations resulting from immigration of people from
different parts of the world. In addition, the increase in the cross-cultural interactions
combined with the depletion of gold in the gold mine resulted in high instances of ethnic
tensions. There was also instances of moral decay including; the increase in prostitution,
gambling, and theft. All these effects were coupled with the increased racial and ethnic
injustices.

Works Cited

Hurtado, Albert L. Intimate Frontiers: Sex, Gender, and Culture in Old California. UNM
Press, 1999.
Clappe, Louis A.K.S. “Shirley Letters from California Mines in 1851-1852.” Edited by
Thomas C Russell, The Project Gutenberg Ebook, Thomas C Russell, 1 Nov. 2007,
www.gutenberg.org/files/23280/23280-h/23280-h.htm.