All language subtitles for Gold Rush s01e04 Birth of California.eng
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1
00:00:01,169 --> 00:00:05,709
(powerful music)
2
00:00:22,934 --> 00:00:27,874
(racy music)
3
00:01:18,868 --> 00:01:23,768
(calm music)
4
00:01:29,568 --> 00:01:33,068
- [Voiceover] It was
a splendid population
5
00:01:33,069 --> 00:01:35,969
for all the slow,
sleepy, sluggish brains
6
00:01:35,968 --> 00:01:38,203
lost stayed at home.
7
00:01:38,201 --> 00:01:41,336
You never find that sort
of people among pioneers.
8
00:01:41,334 --> 00:01:44,934
It cannot build pioneers out
of that sort of material.
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00:01:44,934 --> 00:01:48,671
It was that population
that gave to California
10
00:01:48,668 --> 00:01:52,337
a name for getting up
astounding enterprises
11
00:01:52,334 --> 00:01:54,964
and rushing them through
with a magnificent
12
00:01:54,968 --> 00:01:58,371
dashing, daring
and a recklessness
13
00:01:58,368 --> 00:02:00,628
of cost or consequences
14
00:02:00,634 --> 00:02:03,370
for which she bares
unto this day.
15
00:02:03,368 --> 00:02:06,268
And when she projects
a new surprise,
16
00:02:06,268 --> 00:02:09,870
the grave world smiles
as usual and says,
17
00:02:09,868 --> 00:02:13,268
well, that is
California all over.
18
00:02:16,568 --> 00:02:18,935
- [Voiceover] No other
state had come into being
19
00:02:18,933 --> 00:02:21,569
quite like California.
20
00:02:21,568 --> 00:02:23,868
Before California's
admission to the union,
21
00:02:23,868 --> 00:02:26,768
each state had to
pay its dues first
22
00:02:26,768 --> 00:02:30,071
by spending years
as a territory.
23
00:02:30,068 --> 00:02:34,337
The US Government required a
population of 60,000 residents
24
00:02:34,334 --> 00:02:37,604
before territory could become
eligible for statehood.
25
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,635
Immigration to California
prior to the Gold Rush
26
00:02:42,634 --> 00:02:45,664
had been so slow that it
would have taken decades
27
00:02:45,668 --> 00:02:49,371
for the territory to
reach the 60,000 mark.
28
00:02:49,368 --> 00:02:52,568
Once the quiet discovery
of gold at Sutter's Mill
29
00:02:52,568 --> 00:02:55,368
broke loose in the
early months of 1848
30
00:02:55,368 --> 00:02:58,236
and the word spread
across the globe,
31
00:02:58,234 --> 00:03:00,902
the booming people
traversing the nation
32
00:03:00,900 --> 00:03:03,569
and the oceans to
enter California
33
00:03:03,568 --> 00:03:06,068
made the population
explode in a way
34
00:03:06,068 --> 00:03:09,470
no other place on earth
had ever encountered
35
00:03:09,468 --> 00:03:12,336
up until that time.
36
00:03:12,334 --> 00:03:15,064
When it came time for
California to become a state,
37
00:03:15,068 --> 00:03:18,236
congress wanted the eastern
border to be at the crest
38
00:03:18,234 --> 00:03:20,834
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
39
00:03:20,833 --> 00:03:23,802
This did not sit well
with the Californians
40
00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,069
because they knew all too well
41
00:03:26,068 --> 00:03:29,436
that the Sierras
were full of gold.
42
00:03:29,434 --> 00:03:31,169
They drew their own border
43
00:03:31,168 --> 00:03:35,368
running in a line just to the
east of the Sierra Nevada's.
44
00:03:35,368 --> 00:03:38,570
They were keen on keeping
all the gold that their state
45
00:03:38,567 --> 00:03:40,297
had to offer.
46
00:03:40,301 --> 00:03:41,534
To the south,
47
00:03:41,533 --> 00:03:43,793
they drew their border
along the Colorado River
48
00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,469
out of concerns for water.
49
00:03:46,467 --> 00:03:48,901
Congress was reluctant to agree
50
00:03:48,900 --> 00:03:51,335
but feared that if they did not,
51
00:03:51,334 --> 00:03:54,234
they would be at risk at losing
all of the territory west
52
00:03:54,234 --> 00:03:56,434
of the Colorado Mountains.
53
00:03:56,433 --> 00:03:59,333
They could not risk
California attempting to form
54
00:03:59,334 --> 00:04:00,734
its own republic.
55
00:04:01,833 --> 00:04:04,833
California got to
create its own borders
56
00:04:04,833 --> 00:04:06,663
and the United States brought
57
00:04:06,667 --> 00:04:09,577
its 31st state into the union.
58
00:04:13,433 --> 00:04:16,533
The spoils of the Mexican
American War were plentiful
59
00:04:16,533 --> 00:04:18,973
for Americans in terms of land.
60
00:04:21,233 --> 00:04:23,363
They purchased
California along with
61
00:04:23,367 --> 00:04:26,102
Alta California, New
Mexico which contain
62
00:04:26,101 --> 00:04:29,070
what would one day
become Arizona,
63
00:04:29,068 --> 00:04:31,135
Nevada, and Utah.
64
00:04:31,134 --> 00:04:34,903
And they set Texas' southern
border at the Rio Grande
65
00:04:34,900 --> 00:04:36,430
once and for all.
66
00:04:40,500 --> 00:04:43,969
While Mexico's defeat stung
the pride of that nation,
67
00:04:43,967 --> 00:04:46,102
they had never
colonized their lands
68
00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:49,069
to their full potential.
69
00:04:49,068 --> 00:04:51,898
California and the neighboring
territories were sparsely
70
00:04:51,900 --> 00:04:56,637
populated at vast by
the Mexican people.
71
00:04:56,633 --> 00:04:59,069
One can only speculate
whether Mexico would have
72
00:04:59,067 --> 00:05:01,767
signed the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo
73
00:05:01,767 --> 00:05:04,835
if they had known that
just a few days earlier,
74
00:05:04,833 --> 00:05:07,402
gold had been discovered
in the land that they had
75
00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,200
fought to keep.
76
00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,700
The war may very
well have continued
77
00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:13,834
and America's landscape might
78
00:05:13,833 --> 00:05:15,903
have been drastically different.
79
00:05:18,100 --> 00:05:21,600
The growth and rapid change
in California can be best
80
00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,135
symbolized by one of
its most bustling cities
81
00:05:24,133 --> 00:05:28,070
during the gold
rush, San Francisco.
82
00:05:28,067 --> 00:05:31,697
San Francisco grew
so fast that often
83
00:05:31,700 --> 00:05:34,469
the legs it was standing on
could not support the weight
84
00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:36,567
the city had to bear.
85
00:05:36,567 --> 00:05:39,802
Before the gold rush,
this sleepy little city
86
00:05:39,799 --> 00:05:42,734
had less than 1,000 inhabitants.
87
00:05:42,733 --> 00:05:47,533
A few nuggets of gold created
a shock wave around the globe.
88
00:05:47,533 --> 00:05:50,633
The city was hurriedly built
to accommodate all of those
89
00:05:50,633 --> 00:05:53,069
that flooded into the bay area.
90
00:05:53,067 --> 00:05:57,570
The city would pay the price
for such hasty construction.
91
00:05:57,567 --> 00:06:01,067
It would burn to the
ground, be rebuilt again,
92
00:06:01,067 --> 00:06:04,667
only to reach the same
fate as it had before.
93
00:06:06,067 --> 00:06:08,234
Ships in the harbor
that were abandoned
94
00:06:08,233 --> 00:06:11,569
by their gold hungry
crews would often be suck
95
00:06:11,567 --> 00:06:15,067
and made into landfill helping
to further extend the city
96
00:06:15,067 --> 00:06:18,635
out into the bay or they
would be used as storage
97
00:06:18,632 --> 00:06:22,635
for a city that was growing
at an alarming rate.
98
00:06:22,632 --> 00:06:25,332
The harbor would be
so crowded with ships
99
00:06:25,333 --> 00:06:28,633
that it sometimes took days
for crews to unload their cargo
100
00:06:28,632 --> 00:06:30,700
and passengers.
101
00:06:30,699 --> 00:06:32,599
Some of the abandoned
ships that were not turned
102
00:06:32,599 --> 00:06:35,434
into landfill would
be disassembled,
103
00:06:35,433 --> 00:06:37,201
and those timbers would be used
104
00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,130
in the hasty
construction of buildings
105
00:06:39,133 --> 00:06:42,769
such us inns, dry
good stores, saloons,
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00:06:42,766 --> 00:06:44,833
restaurants, and hotels.
107
00:06:44,832 --> 00:06:47,632
All just to accommodate
the ever growing number
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00:06:47,632 --> 00:06:50,532
of miners entering the city.
109
00:06:50,532 --> 00:06:54,402
The people came first
but the thought towards
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00:06:54,399 --> 00:06:58,269
the infrastructure they
would need came second.
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00:06:58,267 --> 00:07:01,767
If you left Gold Rush era
San Francisco for a month
112
00:07:01,766 --> 00:07:04,634
and returned, you
would return to a city
113
00:07:04,632 --> 00:07:07,201
you could barely recognize.
114
00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:12,200
Change and growth were
happening at a dizzying pace.
115
00:07:12,432 --> 00:07:15,801
Those immortal words
of Sam Brannan,
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00:07:15,799 --> 00:07:17,399
"Gold!
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00:07:17,399 --> 00:07:19,829
"Gold in the American river,"
118
00:07:19,832 --> 00:07:22,401
would ring out across
the world and people
119
00:07:22,399 --> 00:07:27,236
of every nationality would
crowd into San Francisco.
120
00:07:27,232 --> 00:07:31,435
The small sleepy city
grew seemingly overnight.
121
00:07:31,432 --> 00:07:34,062
The rapid growth and the
transient nature of the people
122
00:07:34,067 --> 00:07:36,567
who inhabited the
city would forever
123
00:07:36,566 --> 00:07:38,936
be a city planner's nightmare.
124
00:07:41,932 --> 00:07:43,762
- [Voiceover] "There is a
fast mode of doing business
125
00:07:43,766 --> 00:07:46,101
"in California which
had to be adopted,
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00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:47,770
"to keep up with times."
127
00:07:53,266 --> 00:07:54,799
- [Voiceover] The
city was booming
128
00:07:54,799 --> 00:07:57,968
and the rush for gold
permeated every aspect
129
00:07:57,966 --> 00:08:02,096
of the lifestyle of the
California in the 1850's.
130
00:08:02,099 --> 00:08:05,068
Fortunes were made
and lost overnight
131
00:08:05,066 --> 00:08:07,700
and the landscape of
one of its great cities
132
00:08:07,699 --> 00:08:10,069
was fluctuating
right along with it.
133
00:08:13,432 --> 00:08:16,101
From the start of San
Francisco's accelerated growth
134
00:08:16,099 --> 00:08:19,199
at the beginning of
the Gold Rush in 1848
135
00:08:19,199 --> 00:08:22,468
to just three years
later in 1851,
136
00:08:22,466 --> 00:08:24,666
various parts of the
city would be consumed
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00:08:24,666 --> 00:08:27,534
by six great fires.
138
00:08:27,532 --> 00:08:31,869
The first place occurs
on December 24th, 1848,
139
00:08:31,865 --> 00:08:33,832
and it would take over
one million dollars
140
00:08:33,832 --> 00:08:37,669
worth of property
and reduce it to ash.
141
00:08:37,666 --> 00:08:40,526
A mere six months later,
a second fire breaks out
142
00:08:40,532 --> 00:08:42,467
in the early hours
of the morning.
143
00:08:42,466 --> 00:08:45,434
And this time, the flames take
three blocks of the city's
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00:08:45,432 --> 00:08:48,568
most valued buildings
at a cost of around
145
00:08:48,566 --> 00:08:51,366
four million dollars.
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00:08:51,366 --> 00:08:54,066
This fire was
suspected to be arson
147
00:08:54,066 --> 00:08:56,066
and would cause
several city ordinances
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00:08:56,066 --> 00:08:58,767
to be put into immediate action.
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00:08:58,765 --> 00:09:01,233
These ordinances
were put in place
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00:09:01,232 --> 00:09:02,662
in the hopes that
they would keep
151
00:09:02,666 --> 00:09:04,466
any future blazes in check
152
00:09:04,466 --> 00:09:06,233
by being both a deterrent
153
00:09:06,232 --> 00:09:08,767
to anyone who might
think of setting one
154
00:09:08,765 --> 00:09:12,265
and to keep the citizens
of the city better prepared
155
00:09:12,266 --> 00:09:14,366
if another blaze
should breakout.
156
00:09:16,099 --> 00:09:18,699
Households were required
to keep six buckets
157
00:09:18,698 --> 00:09:21,667
of water on hand and
that they're ready
158
00:09:21,665 --> 00:09:24,065
in the event of another fire.
159
00:09:24,066 --> 00:09:27,068
Citizens were also expected
to assist in the extinguishing
160
00:09:27,066 --> 00:09:30,266
of fires or to help in
the removal of items
161
00:09:30,266 --> 00:09:33,634
from a burning building or a
building that was in danger
162
00:09:33,631 --> 00:09:35,531
of catching fire.
163
00:09:35,531 --> 00:09:38,931
If they refuse to this charge,
each citizen could be fined
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00:09:38,931 --> 00:09:42,501
no less than $5 but
no more than 100.
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00:09:46,565 --> 00:09:49,933
Despite these measures,
the blazes continued.
166
00:09:49,931 --> 00:09:52,467
Just one month
later on June 14th,
167
00:09:52,465 --> 00:09:55,733
a third major fire broke
out inside the city.
168
00:09:55,731 --> 00:09:58,831
This time the cause of the
fire was a defective chimney
169
00:09:58,831 --> 00:10:00,431
in a bakery.
170
00:10:00,431 --> 00:10:03,933
The wind was blowing that
morning and it did not take long
171
00:10:03,931 --> 00:10:05,861
for several blocks of the city
172
00:10:05,865 --> 00:10:07,832
to become engulfed in flames
173
00:10:07,831 --> 00:10:11,141
and lost to any
hope of salvation.
174
00:10:12,998 --> 00:10:17,569
Slowly but surely, San
Franciscans began to realize
175
00:10:17,565 --> 00:10:19,765
that they could not keep
constructing buildings
176
00:10:19,765 --> 00:10:22,533
and live in a way that they did.
177
00:10:22,531 --> 00:10:26,961
Fireproof brick buildings
were more expensive to erect
178
00:10:26,965 --> 00:10:29,133
than the more
traditional wooden ones,
179
00:10:29,132 --> 00:10:32,634
but in the long run they
became the cheaper option
180
00:10:32,631 --> 00:10:36,601
because of their stability
and resistance to the flame.
181
00:10:36,598 --> 00:10:38,528
Some houses would be
erected with walls
182
00:10:38,531 --> 00:10:42,034
over two to three feet
thick of solid brick.
183
00:10:42,032 --> 00:10:45,862
In addition to the changing
tide of the architectural style,
184
00:10:45,865 --> 00:10:49,034
more firefighting
departments began to form
185
00:10:49,032 --> 00:10:53,772
but still the city of San
Francisco would see more fires.
186
00:10:56,765 --> 00:11:00,101
On the anniversary of the
first great fire of the city,
187
00:11:00,098 --> 00:11:02,866
a sixth blaze would occur.
188
00:11:02,865 --> 00:11:06,065
This time it was estimated
that there was more damage
189
00:11:06,065 --> 00:11:08,766
from this one fire than
from all the others
190
00:11:08,765 --> 00:11:10,765
that came before.
191
00:11:10,765 --> 00:11:12,565
Ont his particular occasion,
192
00:11:12,565 --> 00:11:15,700
the blaze begins in a
paint and upholstery store
193
00:11:15,698 --> 00:11:18,898
that was located on the
south side of the plaza.
194
00:11:18,898 --> 00:11:22,368
Yet again, malfeasance
was suspected.
195
00:11:22,365 --> 00:11:26,834
And again, to aid in
the destruction, the wind was blowing.
196
00:11:26,831 --> 00:11:29,831
The wooden planked
streets are consumed
197
00:11:29,831 --> 00:11:31,766
and the wind soon
carries the fire
198
00:11:31,765 --> 00:11:33,465
into the business district.
199
00:11:34,930 --> 00:11:37,130
It was said that the
light from the fire
200
00:11:37,131 --> 00:11:40,901
could be seen as far
as 100 miles out sea.
201
00:11:42,698 --> 00:11:45,133
In a matter of only 10 hours,
202
00:11:45,131 --> 00:11:49,968
between 1,500 and 2,000 houses
had been completely lost.
203
00:11:49,964 --> 00:11:53,833
An 18 blocks of the
main district are completely destroyed
204
00:11:53,830 --> 00:11:55,400
by the sixth fire.
205
00:11:56,465 --> 00:11:58,599
The damage extended
three quarters of a mile
206
00:11:58,598 --> 00:12:02,968
north to south and a third
of a mile east to west.
207
00:12:02,964 --> 00:12:07,974
The total damages amount to
more than 12 million dollars.
208
00:12:08,065 --> 00:12:10,695
Only five brick buildings
in the areas hit
209
00:12:10,697 --> 00:12:12,831
would survive the flames.
210
00:12:12,830 --> 00:12:16,600
Not even the fireproof buildings
could escape the inferno.
211
00:12:17,797 --> 00:12:21,697
Still the city and its citizen's
resilience shines through
212
00:12:21,697 --> 00:12:23,437
and they continue on.
213
00:12:24,864 --> 00:12:27,666
Fires were not the only events
that would test the metal
214
00:12:27,664 --> 00:12:30,864
of the city of San Francisco
and its inhabitants.
215
00:12:30,864 --> 00:12:34,364
The city would face a
banking collapse in 1855
216
00:12:34,365 --> 00:12:36,832
that would see the citizens
of the city panicking
217
00:12:36,830 --> 00:12:38,630
and rushing to the
doors of their banks
218
00:12:38,630 --> 00:12:41,840
demanding that they'd be
allowed to withdraw their funds.
219
00:12:43,131 --> 00:12:46,531
Banking was a relatively
new concept to be introduced
220
00:12:46,530 --> 00:12:48,065
to California.
221
00:12:48,065 --> 00:12:51,633
Before the Gold Rush, the
hide and tallow trade ruled
222
00:12:51,630 --> 00:12:54,399
the California coastal commerce.
223
00:12:54,397 --> 00:12:56,727
When Mexico
controlled California,
224
00:12:56,730 --> 00:12:58,865
sailors from around
the world would swap
225
00:12:58,864 --> 00:13:01,694
their finished goods for
the prepared cattle hides
226
00:13:01,697 --> 00:13:04,499
and tallow that was plentiful.
227
00:13:04,497 --> 00:13:06,327
The hides would then
be safely stored
228
00:13:06,330 --> 00:13:08,598
below the decks of the ships.
229
00:13:08,597 --> 00:13:11,166
This direct exchange
eliminated the need for a bank
230
00:13:11,165 --> 00:13:12,565
to be present.
231
00:13:12,564 --> 00:13:15,732
The tallow will be taken
to South America to be sold
232
00:13:15,730 --> 00:13:18,066
and made into soap and candles.
233
00:13:18,065 --> 00:13:20,325
And the hides will
be taken back east
234
00:13:20,330 --> 00:13:22,431
to be made into
finished leather goods
235
00:13:22,430 --> 00:13:24,260
such as shoes and boots.
236
00:13:26,464 --> 00:13:29,099
With the discovery of
gold in California,
237
00:13:29,098 --> 00:13:31,766
the need for these new
found riches to be stored
238
00:13:31,764 --> 00:13:35,233
in a secure place skyrocketed.
239
00:13:35,230 --> 00:13:38,366
But in those days, the
term banker could mean
240
00:13:38,364 --> 00:13:42,264
anyone who had possession
of a secure safe.
241
00:13:42,264 --> 00:13:46,500
They legally could go
into business as a bank.
242
00:13:46,497 --> 00:13:49,597
Once again though, the
Gold Rush illustrates
243
00:13:49,597 --> 00:13:52,766
how it's a major catalyst
for change in the lifestyle
244
00:13:52,764 --> 00:13:56,064
and way of doing business
for the people living there.
245
00:13:56,064 --> 00:13:58,565
The innovation and
adaptation of the people
246
00:13:58,564 --> 00:14:00,794
in a rapidly
changing environment
247
00:14:00,797 --> 00:14:02,967
was a sight to behold.
248
00:14:03,964 --> 00:14:06,932
One of the few banks that
escaped the damage of the panic
249
00:14:06,930 --> 00:14:09,066
was Lucas, Turner and Company,
250
00:14:09,064 --> 00:14:11,631
a Saint Louis based operation.
251
00:14:11,630 --> 00:14:14,060
The San Francisco branch
was being managed by a man
252
00:14:14,064 --> 00:14:17,766
named William Tecumseh Sherman.
253
00:14:17,764 --> 00:14:19,564
In just a few short years
254
00:14:19,564 --> 00:14:22,094
the nation would come
to know this man's name
255
00:14:22,097 --> 00:14:25,299
as one of the leading
generals of the Civil War.
256
00:14:25,297 --> 00:14:27,365
He would lead thousands of men
257
00:14:27,364 --> 00:14:31,064
into perilous battle
and emerge victorious.
258
00:14:31,064 --> 00:14:32,664
For generations after,
259
00:14:32,664 --> 00:14:35,732
many in the south would
recollect with much disdain
260
00:14:35,730 --> 00:14:37,830
Sherman's march to the sea
261
00:14:37,829 --> 00:14:39,897
where he took his
troops of the Union Army
262
00:14:39,896 --> 00:14:43,566
from the captured city of
Atlanta to the port of Savannah.
263
00:14:43,564 --> 00:14:46,899
They destroyed almost all
that crossed their path,
264
00:14:46,896 --> 00:14:50,096
military targets as well
as civilian property
265
00:14:50,097 --> 00:14:52,631
and the south's infrastructure.
266
00:14:52,630 --> 00:14:55,799
Years later, upon recounting
his time as a bank manager
267
00:14:55,796 --> 00:14:59,066
in San Francisco, he
was quoted as saying--
268
00:14:59,064 --> 00:15:02,064
- [Voiceover] "I can handle a
hundred thousand men in battle
269
00:15:02,064 --> 00:15:04,064
"and take the city of the sun,
270
00:15:04,064 --> 00:15:06,331
"but I'm afraid to manage a lot
271
00:15:06,330 --> 00:15:08,770
"in the swamp of San Francisco."
272
00:15:10,064 --> 00:15:12,264
- [Voiceover] Apparently,
the unpredictable nature
273
00:15:12,264 --> 00:15:14,564
of the city was
powerful enough to cause
274
00:15:14,564 --> 00:15:18,633
even a man such as Sherman
to become unsure of himself
275
00:15:18,629 --> 00:15:20,399
if only for a moment.
276
00:15:24,130 --> 00:15:27,099
Sherman would also be pulled
onto the city's committee
277
00:15:27,097 --> 00:15:31,167
of vigilance for a time
when it reemerged in 1856,
278
00:15:31,164 --> 00:15:34,064
five years after it
was first established.
279
00:15:34,064 --> 00:15:36,464
The committee was
an organization that was constructed
280
00:15:36,464 --> 00:15:39,366
to combat the rampant
crime that was blatantly
281
00:15:39,364 --> 00:15:42,064
being committed in
the city streets.
282
00:15:42,064 --> 00:15:45,064
The 1856 version of the
committee of vigilance
283
00:15:45,064 --> 00:15:48,199
also set its gaze towards
squelching political crimes
284
00:15:48,197 --> 00:15:50,965
as well as political corruption.
285
00:15:50,963 --> 00:15:54,499
Despite many upheavals
and rapid changes,
286
00:15:54,496 --> 00:15:56,156
the city would
continue to rebuild
287
00:15:56,164 --> 00:15:58,565
in every sense of the word.
288
00:15:58,563 --> 00:16:01,193
The resilience and
perseverance of the citizens
289
00:16:01,197 --> 00:16:04,066
of this young city would
work to counterbalance
290
00:16:04,064 --> 00:16:07,132
the haste in which it
was first directed.
291
00:16:07,130 --> 00:16:10,299
The city began as a sleepy
little town on the bay
292
00:16:10,297 --> 00:16:13,297
but the California Gold Rush
would do more than anything
293
00:16:13,296 --> 00:16:17,399
previous to spur San
Francisco on to grow
294
00:16:17,396 --> 00:16:19,096
and to become one of
the largest cities
295
00:16:19,097 --> 00:16:21,065
in the United States.
296
00:16:21,064 --> 00:16:24,532
It will continue to thrive
impart fueled by the aspirations
297
00:16:24,529 --> 00:16:27,265
of the multitudes that
were drawn into the region
298
00:16:27,263 --> 00:16:30,193
because of gold and
the promise of a better
299
00:16:30,197 --> 00:16:31,797
brighter tomorrow.
300
00:16:34,763 --> 00:16:36,497
With every passing month,
301
00:16:36,496 --> 00:16:39,365
California was
growing in population.
302
00:16:39,363 --> 00:16:42,731
The placer gold was getting
harder and harder to find
303
00:16:42,729 --> 00:16:46,059
but the stories of riches
being pulled from the hillside
304
00:16:46,064 --> 00:16:49,432
were still in great abundance.
305
00:16:49,429 --> 00:16:52,231
Prospective miners
travel to the gold fields
306
00:16:52,229 --> 00:16:55,859
and would quickly learn that
the game was rapidly changing.
307
00:16:55,863 --> 00:16:58,298
It was less and less
common for a single man
308
00:16:58,296 --> 00:17:00,964
or a small outfit to be
able to pull enough gold
309
00:17:00,963 --> 00:17:03,293
from the earth to
sustain a living
310
00:17:03,296 --> 00:17:06,298
let alone save money
to return back home
311
00:17:06,296 --> 00:17:10,566
and be able to while away their
remaining days and luxury.
312
00:17:10,563 --> 00:17:13,263
Large corporations
were taking over
313
00:17:13,263 --> 00:17:15,497
and companies were extracting
the ore from beneath
314
00:17:15,496 --> 00:17:20,226
mountains or hydraulically
washing away the hillsides.
315
00:17:20,229 --> 00:17:24,199
These kinds of operations
required lots of manpower.
316
00:17:24,196 --> 00:17:26,896
Discouraged miners found
themselves signing on
317
00:17:26,895 --> 00:17:31,065
to these larger operations
and working for a day's wage.
318
00:17:31,063 --> 00:17:34,263
They'd come so far,
traversed the nation,
319
00:17:34,263 --> 00:17:36,763
only to be back to
working in a situation
320
00:17:36,763 --> 00:17:38,630
that was most likely no better
321
00:17:38,629 --> 00:17:40,369
than the one they'd
left at home.
322
00:17:42,296 --> 00:17:47,067
In 1858, news of hope
and a new el dorado
323
00:17:47,063 --> 00:17:48,923
spread throughout California
324
00:17:48,928 --> 00:17:51,197
because gold had
been discovered north
325
00:17:51,196 --> 00:17:53,496
in Canada's British Columbia.
326
00:17:56,429 --> 00:18:00,466
In the Fraser River canon
discoveries of fine flower gold
327
00:18:00,463 --> 00:18:01,963
had been made.
328
00:18:01,962 --> 00:18:04,830
There had been miner rushes
in this area in the past
329
00:18:04,828 --> 00:18:08,365
but word has not spread
quite like this before.
330
00:18:08,363 --> 00:18:11,631
The Cariboo Gold Rush
of 1860 would attract
331
00:18:11,629 --> 00:18:14,659
more Canadians than the
Fraser River discovery,
332
00:18:14,662 --> 00:18:17,830
thus, this discovery
was more of an extension
333
00:18:17,828 --> 00:18:20,228
of the California
Gold Rush mining
334
00:18:20,229 --> 00:18:22,497
and the culture
that surrounded it.
335
00:18:22,496 --> 00:18:26,632
30,000 men who had given up
hope to make their own riches
336
00:18:26,628 --> 00:18:31,366
in California now had a
new lease on life up north.
337
00:18:31,363 --> 00:18:34,463
The Argonauts quickly flooded
the village of Victoria
338
00:18:34,463 --> 00:18:39,367
which up until that time was
inhabited by only 500 people.
339
00:18:39,363 --> 00:18:42,293
Many of these men were
unable to stay claims
340
00:18:42,296 --> 00:18:43,963
because of the high
water on the river
341
00:18:43,962 --> 00:18:46,062
during the summer time months,
342
00:18:46,063 --> 00:18:50,099
but by autumn, many simply
returned disheartened
343
00:18:50,096 --> 00:18:51,696
to California.
344
00:18:51,695 --> 00:18:54,464
They convinced themselves
that the Fraser rush
345
00:18:54,462 --> 00:18:56,329
held not weight.
346
00:18:56,329 --> 00:18:59,529
Despite this, more men
would come in to replace
347
00:18:59,528 --> 00:19:02,064
the disappointed once who left.
348
00:19:02,063 --> 00:19:04,297
All of these men who would
enter the short lived
349
00:19:04,296 --> 00:19:07,796
Fraser River Gold Rush would
disrupt the natural order
350
00:19:07,795 --> 00:19:10,325
of the environment
as well as the lives
351
00:19:10,328 --> 00:19:13,164
of the indigenous
people who inhabited it
352
00:19:13,163 --> 00:19:15,797
just as they were
doing in California.
353
00:19:15,795 --> 00:19:18,395
Many of these men
returned to California
354
00:19:18,395 --> 00:19:21,395
and continued to labor in
the mines for corporations
355
00:19:21,395 --> 00:19:24,235
and men with larger
purse strings.
356
00:19:26,129 --> 00:19:28,797
The placer gold was
beginning to dry up
357
00:19:28,795 --> 00:19:31,264
and along with it
many of the stories of
358
00:19:31,262 --> 00:19:34,730
larger than life nuggets which
fueled the hearts and minds
359
00:19:34,728 --> 00:19:37,928
of thousands during
the Gold Rush era.
360
00:19:37,928 --> 00:19:40,728
Advanced mining techniques
such as hydraulic
361
00:19:40,728 --> 00:19:44,398
and river dredging were
quickly becoming the norm
362
00:19:44,395 --> 00:19:47,195
and the every man's
chance at striking it rich
363
00:19:47,195 --> 00:19:50,464
was dwindling with
every passing day.
364
00:19:50,462 --> 00:19:53,192
Entire sections of
rivers would be diverted
365
00:19:53,195 --> 00:19:55,696
and massive amounts of
earth would be crushed
366
00:19:55,695 --> 00:20:00,365
to get to the smallest
deposits of gold locked inside.
367
00:20:00,362 --> 00:20:02,792
The instantaneous discovery
of pay dirt large enough
368
00:20:02,795 --> 00:20:05,997
to set you up for
life was giving way
369
00:20:05,995 --> 00:20:09,865
to a more pain staking and
methodical kind of mining.
370
00:20:10,828 --> 00:20:14,608
The strike it rich
moment was almost gone.
371
00:20:17,328 --> 00:20:19,163
Located in Northern California,
372
00:20:19,162 --> 00:20:23,531
just 15 miles northeast
of Chico, Dogtown.
373
00:20:23,528 --> 00:20:27,798
This small town with an odd
name would be the discovery site
374
00:20:27,795 --> 00:20:31,365
of the largest single
nugget of gold on earth
375
00:20:31,362 --> 00:20:32,632
at that time.
376
00:20:33,595 --> 00:20:36,797
Dogtown got its namesake
because of its abundance
377
00:20:36,795 --> 00:20:39,464
of K9 inhabitants.
378
00:20:39,462 --> 00:20:41,662
Some of the first
settlers of the area
379
00:20:41,662 --> 00:20:43,392
were the Basset family.
380
00:20:43,395 --> 00:20:46,230
And when Mrs. Basset
first arrived to the area
381
00:20:46,228 --> 00:20:50,265
she came on foot and had
almost no worldly possessions
382
00:20:50,262 --> 00:20:55,262
saved for three dogs:
two female and one male.
383
00:20:55,562 --> 00:20:58,964
Mrs. Basset had no
luck as a prospector
384
00:20:58,961 --> 00:21:02,631
yet she still had to find
a way to make a living.
385
00:21:04,395 --> 00:21:07,495
When one of her dogs gave
birth to a liter of puppies,
386
00:21:07,495 --> 00:21:09,663
she had an idea.
387
00:21:09,661 --> 00:21:13,561
She began selling her pups
for a pinch of gold dust
388
00:21:13,562 --> 00:21:15,929
to the lonely miners
who were setting up camp
389
00:21:15,927 --> 00:21:17,962
all around the area.
390
00:21:17,961 --> 00:21:21,630
These men were at a loss for
some kind of companionship
391
00:21:21,627 --> 00:21:26,057
and she provided it at a
reasonable enough expense.
392
00:21:26,062 --> 00:21:28,329
As the town grew,
there are soon dogs
393
00:21:28,328 --> 00:21:30,928
in every tent in cabin.
394
00:21:30,927 --> 00:21:34,197
Shop keeps and saloon
owners kept them as well.
395
00:21:34,195 --> 00:21:37,895
The name of Dogtown seem
natural and fitting.
396
00:21:39,561 --> 00:21:42,861
Until 1859, Dogtown
remained a place
397
00:21:42,861 --> 00:21:44,661
that was not widely known
398
00:21:44,661 --> 00:21:48,230
and the population
seems sparse at best.
399
00:21:48,228 --> 00:21:51,564
That all changed
when A.K. Sterns,
400
00:21:51,561 --> 00:21:54,661
a work man, discovered
a large gold nugget
401
00:21:54,661 --> 00:21:58,697
in the Willard Claim on
the slopes of Sawmill Peak.
402
00:21:58,694 --> 00:22:02,764
The nugget weighed
in at 54 pounds.
403
00:22:02,761 --> 00:22:07,771
And its value was
set at $10,690.
404
00:22:07,827 --> 00:22:12,837
That would be in the $350,000
range for modern day money.
405
00:22:13,394 --> 00:22:15,895
The dog town nugget
quickly made headlines
406
00:22:15,894 --> 00:22:18,463
on many papers all
across the nation.
407
00:22:18,461 --> 00:22:23,061
And this single find started
a small gold rush of its own
408
00:22:23,062 --> 00:22:26,197
within the Dogtown area.
409
00:22:26,195 --> 00:22:29,064
The name and the legend
of the Dogtown nugget
410
00:22:29,062 --> 00:22:31,662
would live on but
the town's name
411
00:22:31,661 --> 00:22:34,229
was not long for this world.
412
00:22:34,227 --> 00:22:37,827
The female population of
Dogtown resented the name
413
00:22:37,827 --> 00:22:39,762
and especially so when
they needed to use it
414
00:22:39,761 --> 00:22:42,091
in correspondence.
415
00:22:42,095 --> 00:22:45,164
The women of Dogtown,
California petitioned to have
416
00:22:45,161 --> 00:22:48,396
the town's name
changed to Magalia,
417
00:22:48,394 --> 00:22:50,764
which is Latin for cottages.
418
00:22:52,594 --> 00:22:57,065
A plea for a name
change appeared in the Marysville Appeal
419
00:22:57,062 --> 00:22:59,322
by a local resident.
420
00:22:59,327 --> 00:23:02,596
"We should hate to live
in a place called Dogtown
421
00:23:02,594 --> 00:23:05,763
"particularly if we had
a large correspondence
422
00:23:05,761 --> 00:23:09,597
"and had to write
the name frequently."
423
00:23:09,594 --> 00:23:12,629
The name was forever
changed and gold continued
424
00:23:12,627 --> 00:23:16,127
to be prospected there
until the 1890's.
425
00:23:16,127 --> 00:23:20,864
Soon, only the old timers
knew the origins of Magalia,
426
00:23:20,861 --> 00:23:24,061
the namesake of
the Dogtown nugget.
427
00:23:25,694 --> 00:23:29,464
Some 174 miles
southeast of Dogtown,
428
00:23:29,461 --> 00:23:32,361
another gold nugget was
literally stumbled upon
429
00:23:32,361 --> 00:23:37,371
by John William Hats as he was
chasing after a runaway mule.
430
00:23:37,727 --> 00:23:41,730
The nugget he finds
weighs in at 14 pounds,
431
00:23:41,727 --> 00:23:44,627
nothing compared to
the Dogtown nugget
432
00:23:44,627 --> 00:23:47,963
but it would lead to one of
the largest slabs of gold
433
00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,429
that the California Gold
Rush would ever see.
434
00:23:51,427 --> 00:23:55,057
James H. Carson fought in
the Mexican-American War
435
00:23:55,061 --> 00:23:57,162
as part of Colonel
Stevenson's regiment
436
00:23:57,161 --> 00:24:00,061
of first New York volunteers.
437
00:24:00,061 --> 00:24:04,361
The regiment arrived
in California in 1847.
438
00:24:04,361 --> 00:24:07,663
Carson saw a little action
during the course of the war.
439
00:24:07,661 --> 00:24:10,961
There were no plans made for
the soldiers to turn back east
440
00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,728
so by the end of the war the
soldiers found themselves
441
00:24:13,726 --> 00:24:15,626
stranded in California.
442
00:24:16,893 --> 00:24:20,363
Carson was living in Monterey
which is just under 300 miles
443
00:24:20,361 --> 00:24:23,229
south of Coloma where
marshal discovers the first
444
00:24:23,227 --> 00:24:26,696
nuggets of gold in
the American river.
445
00:24:26,693 --> 00:24:28,861
It did not take long
for word to reach him
446
00:24:28,860 --> 00:24:30,490
about the findings.
447
00:24:30,494 --> 00:24:33,494
He quickly packed up
his belongings along with some supplies
448
00:24:33,494 --> 00:24:37,234
he purchased and set out
for the virgin gold fields.
449
00:24:40,361 --> 00:24:42,691
Carson first stopped
at Weber Creek
450
00:24:42,693 --> 00:24:44,961
in Placerville, California.
451
00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:46,860
He was successful in his digging
452
00:24:46,860 --> 00:24:50,196
but the itch for something
more led him to look elsewhere
453
00:24:50,194 --> 00:24:53,063
for bigger and better prospects.
454
00:24:53,061 --> 00:24:55,961
He joins a party of men
which included the Angel
455
00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,762
and Murphy Brothers, and
they collectively decided
456
00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:00,860
to head south.
457
00:25:00,860 --> 00:25:03,460
They prospected every
stream they came across
458
00:25:03,460 --> 00:25:06,260
until they came to a
creek some 60 miles south
459
00:25:06,261 --> 00:25:08,195
of where they'd started.
460
00:25:08,194 --> 00:25:11,663
Here, the group of men parted
ways of what is now known
461
00:25:11,660 --> 00:25:13,390
as Angel's Creek.
462
00:25:13,393 --> 00:25:15,394
The Murphy's headed eastward.
463
00:25:15,393 --> 00:25:19,263
Carson continues south while
the Angels stayed at the creek.
464
00:25:20,726 --> 00:25:23,895
Carson found luck a few miles
south at a small tributary
465
00:25:23,893 --> 00:25:25,794
of the status laws.
466
00:25:25,793 --> 00:25:28,093
This area, rich in gold,
467
00:25:28,094 --> 00:25:30,924
they decided to
name Carson's creek.
468
00:25:30,926 --> 00:25:33,695
Despite having the success
in all of these places,
469
00:25:33,693 --> 00:25:36,495
James H. Carson still
remained restless
470
00:25:36,493 --> 00:25:38,423
and his desire for
something bigger
471
00:25:38,426 --> 00:25:40,396
pulled him further south.
472
00:25:41,726 --> 00:25:44,556
After several years of
unsuccessful prospecting,
473
00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,860
Carson decided to
return to Carson's Creek
474
00:25:46,860 --> 00:25:49,295
and acclaims that
he had laid there.
475
00:25:49,293 --> 00:25:53,193
He goes on to be elected to
the state assembly in 1852.
476
00:25:53,193 --> 00:25:55,827
But rheumatism which had
plagued them for years
477
00:25:55,826 --> 00:25:58,662
left him bed-stricken.
478
00:25:58,660 --> 00:26:01,390
The creek and the hill
which pulled his namesake
479
00:26:01,393 --> 00:26:03,927
were still successfully
being mined for gold
480
00:26:03,926 --> 00:26:06,656
while Carson lay ill in bed.
481
00:26:06,660 --> 00:26:09,962
He succumbs to the illness
before he can take office
482
00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:13,129
and dies very near poverty.
483
00:26:13,126 --> 00:26:16,295
James H. Carson would not
live to see the largest nugget
484
00:26:16,293 --> 00:26:19,823
of gold pulled from the
hills that bore his namesake.
485
00:26:21,426 --> 00:26:24,426
John William Hats, the
man who would discover
486
00:26:24,426 --> 00:26:27,526
the 14-pound lump of
gold up on Carson Hill
487
00:26:27,526 --> 00:26:31,263
while chasing a runaway mule
four years earlier in 50,
488
00:26:31,260 --> 00:26:35,260
immediately returned to the
site to stake his claim.
489
00:26:35,260 --> 00:26:37,627
At that time, he did
not know that the nugget
490
00:26:37,626 --> 00:26:40,362
which he stumbled
across had broken a way
491
00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:43,428
from a much larger quartz
fane which was rooted deep
492
00:26:43,426 --> 00:26:45,756
within the hillside.
493
00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:49,163
John Hats takes a group of
six partners up to the newly
494
00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,260
stated claim.
495
00:26:51,260 --> 00:26:53,660
There, they decide
to call themselves
496
00:26:53,660 --> 00:26:57,129
The Carson Creek
Consolidated Mining Company.
497
00:26:57,126 --> 00:27:02,064
Soon thereafter, the
claim becomes known as the Morgan Mine,
498
00:27:02,060 --> 00:27:04,727
thusly named after
Colonel A. Morgan,
499
00:27:04,725 --> 00:27:07,394
the most prominent figure
in the partnership.
500
00:27:07,393 --> 00:27:10,062
The Morgan Mine was
so abundant with gold
501
00:27:10,060 --> 00:27:13,060
that the prospectors used
a very unusual technique
502
00:27:13,060 --> 00:27:16,960
to extract and retrieve the
gold from the quartz bedrock.
503
00:27:16,959 --> 00:27:19,961
One of the partners described
the method and process
504
00:27:19,959 --> 00:27:22,059
as such.
505
00:27:22,060 --> 00:27:24,427
When the quartz fane
was first worked,
506
00:27:24,426 --> 00:27:27,626
the method adopted
was to put in a blast
507
00:27:27,625 --> 00:27:31,062
and after the explosion, to
go around with hand baskets
508
00:27:31,060 --> 00:27:33,227
and pick up the pieces.
509
00:27:33,226 --> 00:27:34,826
Implementing this method,
510
00:27:34,825 --> 00:27:36,755
the partners of the
Morgan Mine pulled out
511
00:27:36,759 --> 00:27:41,769
$110,000 in gold for
one single blast.
512
00:27:42,426 --> 00:27:43,956
On another occasion,
513
00:27:43,959 --> 00:27:48,399
the party found a lump of ore
that weighed in at 112 pounds.
514
00:27:50,226 --> 00:27:52,927
The Morgan Mine kept producing.
515
00:27:52,925 --> 00:27:55,425
On November 22nd, 1854,
516
00:27:55,425 --> 00:27:58,494
a slab of golden
quartz was discovered.
517
00:27:58,492 --> 00:28:03,392
While technically not a
nugget, it was massive in size.
518
00:28:03,392 --> 00:28:06,794
It was over 15 inches
long, six inches wide,
519
00:28:06,792 --> 00:28:08,922
and four inches thick.
520
00:28:08,925 --> 00:28:13,129
The slab held a value
of over $43,000.
521
00:28:13,126 --> 00:28:16,095
It was one of the largest
ever discovered in California
522
00:28:16,093 --> 00:28:18,123
yet it was only a fraction
of the total bounty
523
00:28:18,126 --> 00:28:21,828
which miners would ultimately
reap from the hill.
524
00:28:21,825 --> 00:28:25,125
Carson Hill of Calaveras
County would produce
525
00:28:25,126 --> 00:28:28,866
26 million dollars
in gold in total.
526
00:28:30,225 --> 00:28:33,094
There were countless stories
of larger than life finds
527
00:28:33,093 --> 00:28:35,227
throughout the Gold Rush.
528
00:28:35,225 --> 00:28:37,093
In the summer of 1858,
529
00:28:37,093 --> 00:28:39,861
a young boy of 14
in Calaveras County
530
00:28:39,859 --> 00:28:42,127
discovered a nugget
of gold and quartz
531
00:28:42,126 --> 00:28:46,056
the size of a coconut
near waterwheel in the bed of a stream
532
00:28:46,060 --> 00:28:48,061
that have been
worked over by miners
533
00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:51,728
who head just happened
to miss finding that gold
534
00:28:51,725 --> 00:28:54,255
after all those years.
535
00:28:54,259 --> 00:28:57,394
A 52-pound heap of
golden quartz was found
536
00:28:57,392 --> 00:29:00,361
in the Diltz Mine
in Mariposa County
537
00:29:00,359 --> 00:29:02,159
and Woods Creek in Sonora County
538
00:29:02,159 --> 00:29:05,899
would claim one weighed
in at 75 pounds.
539
00:29:08,959 --> 00:29:13,229
Before a single European
soul set foot in California,
540
00:29:13,225 --> 00:29:17,425
it's estimated that there are
over a 300,000 native peoples
541
00:29:17,425 --> 00:29:20,265
living in small tribes
throughout the area.
542
00:29:21,359 --> 00:29:24,394
These people lived in
harmony with the land,
543
00:29:24,392 --> 00:29:27,922
but by 1870, the number of
Native Americans in California
544
00:29:27,924 --> 00:29:32,062
had been reduced to
1/10th of the original.
545
00:29:32,059 --> 00:29:35,159
The roughly 30,000 who
remained in the state
546
00:29:35,159 --> 00:29:37,826
were, for the most
part, displaced.
547
00:29:37,825 --> 00:29:41,395
And a majority of them now
resided on reservations,
548
00:29:41,392 --> 00:29:43,562
cut off from their homelands.
549
00:29:45,858 --> 00:29:48,560
Disease, conflict over gold,
550
00:29:48,559 --> 00:29:51,489
along with the assimilation
and an unwavering difference
551
00:29:51,492 --> 00:29:54,327
in their outlooks on how
the land should be treated
552
00:29:54,325 --> 00:29:57,925
and who it belonged to would
contribute to the schism
553
00:29:57,924 --> 00:30:00,824
that forms between the
native peoples of California
554
00:30:00,824 --> 00:30:03,926
and the Americans and
immigrants who crossed over
555
00:30:03,924 --> 00:30:05,354
into their borders.
556
00:30:06,791 --> 00:30:09,760
With the discovery of
gold at Sutter's Mill,
557
00:30:09,758 --> 00:30:11,788
a whirlwind of change
was brought upon
558
00:30:11,791 --> 00:30:15,427
all the indigenous
people of California.
559
00:30:15,425 --> 00:30:19,395
Until European settlers had
come and now the Americans,
560
00:30:19,392 --> 00:30:21,692
the diverse indigenous
people of California
561
00:30:21,691 --> 00:30:24,093
had lived in relative peace.
562
00:30:24,092 --> 00:30:27,722
There were conflicts between
tribes, but for the most part,
563
00:30:27,724 --> 00:30:30,224
these native peoples
lived in villages
564
00:30:30,225 --> 00:30:33,594
that were sparsely populated
and functioned in harmony
565
00:30:33,591 --> 00:30:35,759
with the world around them.
566
00:30:35,758 --> 00:30:38,393
The land is sacred to
the native inhabitants
567
00:30:38,392 --> 00:30:40,422
of this great land.
568
00:30:40,425 --> 00:30:43,394
They take only what they
need and do it in such a way
569
00:30:43,392 --> 00:30:47,928
that works in a delicate
balance with their surroundings.
570
00:30:47,924 --> 00:30:51,327
The 40 miners' desperate
hunger for gold
571
00:30:51,325 --> 00:30:56,125
runs in stark contrast to the
practices of these people.
572
00:30:56,125 --> 00:30:59,894
The Argonauts scourged the
land and pulled from it
573
00:30:59,891 --> 00:31:02,060
only what they deemed to value
574
00:31:02,059 --> 00:31:05,259
and then they left the
remnants to be cast aside.
575
00:31:07,159 --> 00:31:10,289
So often, these remnants
were the contents of rivers
576
00:31:10,292 --> 00:31:12,760
that have been
damaged and dredged,
577
00:31:12,758 --> 00:31:15,693
hillsides that have been
stripped of their top soil
578
00:31:15,691 --> 00:31:19,861
by hydraulic water hoses and
the entrails of mountains
579
00:31:19,858 --> 00:31:22,826
which have been excavated
by men who dove deep
580
00:31:22,824 --> 00:31:25,254
into the interior
seeking a metal
581
00:31:25,258 --> 00:31:27,625
which would bring them wealth.
582
00:31:27,624 --> 00:31:30,393
The effects of these attitudes
and the actions of those
583
00:31:30,391 --> 00:31:32,691
who mined the gold
fields of California
584
00:31:32,691 --> 00:31:36,694
during this rush can
still be seen today.
585
00:31:36,691 --> 00:31:39,791
The damage these men
caused was irepairable
586
00:31:39,791 --> 00:31:43,161
and devastating in so many ways.
587
00:31:43,158 --> 00:31:46,893
The hunger for gold caused
so many to look no further
588
00:31:46,891 --> 00:31:50,691
into the future than
the next payload.
589
00:31:50,691 --> 00:31:52,825
The land was not
something they wished
590
00:31:52,824 --> 00:31:56,294
to live in harmony with, it
was something to be conquered.
591
00:31:56,291 --> 00:31:58,491
It was a safe to be cracked.
592
00:32:00,224 --> 00:32:02,825
The natives even
knew about the gold
593
00:32:02,824 --> 00:32:07,362
long before the Whites did
but it held no value for them.
594
00:32:07,358 --> 00:32:09,218
With the advent
of the Gold Rush,
595
00:32:09,224 --> 00:32:11,792
Americans and people
from across the world
596
00:32:11,791 --> 00:32:13,891
would flood into
the native lands
597
00:32:13,891 --> 00:32:16,793
and impose upon them
their lifestyles
598
00:32:16,791 --> 00:32:19,521
as well as their
beliefs and values.
599
00:32:21,124 --> 00:32:26,054
1850 was the year that saw
the new California legislature
600
00:32:26,058 --> 00:32:30,327
pass an act for the government
and protection of Indians
601
00:32:30,324 --> 00:32:32,259
that did march to
further America
602
00:32:32,258 --> 00:32:36,227
down the path of
marginalizing, displacing,
603
00:32:36,224 --> 00:32:38,792
and in many
instances eradicating
604
00:32:38,791 --> 00:32:41,061
the native people of California.
605
00:32:43,458 --> 00:32:46,658
The aAct allowed Whites to
regard any American Indian
606
00:32:46,658 --> 00:32:49,860
that was not obviously
gainfully employed
607
00:32:49,857 --> 00:32:53,726
and deemed him a grant
before justice of the peace.
608
00:32:53,724 --> 00:32:56,893
These Indians could then
be sold at public auction
609
00:32:56,890 --> 00:33:00,090
and become temporary
slave laborers to whomever
610
00:33:00,091 --> 00:33:03,560
purchased them for a
period of four months.
611
00:33:03,558 --> 00:33:07,161
This Act also allowed Whites
to indenture native children
612
00:33:07,158 --> 00:33:11,227
and they were often
sold as apprentices.
613
00:33:11,224 --> 00:33:14,454
Whites continued to move
Indians off their native lands
614
00:33:14,458 --> 00:33:16,625
and on to reservations.
615
00:33:16,624 --> 00:33:19,060
These people would be
rounded up like cattle
616
00:33:19,058 --> 00:33:20,918
and forced to live in camps
where they were promised
617
00:33:20,923 --> 00:33:23,759
food and shelter
but all too often,
618
00:33:23,757 --> 00:33:25,957
the white men would
break their promises
619
00:33:25,957 --> 00:33:28,925
once the Indians were
on the reservation.
620
00:33:28,923 --> 00:33:32,060
The American Indians lived
in balance with the land
621
00:33:32,058 --> 00:33:34,658
and the food that are
provided for them.
622
00:33:34,657 --> 00:33:39,061
Being carded off to reservation
which was almost always
623
00:33:39,058 --> 00:33:41,725
on attractive land that
Whites deem to below them
624
00:33:41,723 --> 00:33:43,183
to use.
625
00:33:43,191 --> 00:33:46,893
Through off this balance for
the self-sustaining Indians,
626
00:33:46,890 --> 00:33:49,190
they could no longer
provide for themselves
627
00:33:49,191 --> 00:33:51,559
and therefore they became
dependent upon the very men
628
00:33:51,557 --> 00:33:53,687
who operated them them
in the first place
629
00:33:53,690 --> 00:33:55,491
for food.
630
00:33:55,490 --> 00:33:57,890
This tragic
displacements of people
631
00:33:57,890 --> 00:34:00,120
tore them from
their native lands
632
00:34:00,124 --> 00:34:03,160
and took their dignity forever
changing their cultural
633
00:34:03,158 --> 00:34:06,126
landscape much in a
way that the miners did
634
00:34:06,124 --> 00:34:09,593
to the gold fields and the
California wilderness itself
635
00:34:09,590 --> 00:34:11,524
with their hunger for gold
636
00:34:11,523 --> 00:34:14,123
which in many cases was
born out of greed and
637
00:34:14,124 --> 00:34:16,524
short-sightedness and haste.
638
00:34:17,957 --> 00:34:21,827
The entirety of the act
allowed all of the following.
639
00:34:24,191 --> 00:34:27,291
Number one, the justice
of the peace would have
640
00:34:27,290 --> 00:34:30,920
jurisdiction over all complaints
between Indians and Whites;
641
00:34:30,923 --> 00:34:35,061
but in no case shall a white
man be convicted of any offense
642
00:34:35,058 --> 00:34:38,926
upon the testimony of
an Indian or Indians.
643
00:34:38,923 --> 00:34:42,326
Two, land owners would permit
Indians who were peacably
644
00:34:42,323 --> 00:34:46,053
residing on their land
to continue to do so.
645
00:34:46,058 --> 00:34:49,226
Three, Whites would be
able to obtain control
646
00:34:49,223 --> 00:34:51,191
of Indian children.
647
00:34:51,190 --> 00:34:53,624
This section would
eventually be used to justify
648
00:34:53,623 --> 00:34:56,453
and provide for Indian slavery.
649
00:34:56,457 --> 00:35:00,093
Four, if any Indian were
convicted of a crime
650
00:35:00,090 --> 00:35:02,458
any white person could
come before the court
651
00:35:02,457 --> 00:35:06,326
and contract for the Indian
services, and in return,
652
00:35:06,323 --> 00:35:08,723
would pay the Indian's fine.
653
00:35:08,723 --> 00:35:12,960
Five, it would be illegal to
sell or administer alcohol
654
00:35:12,957 --> 00:35:14,457
to Indians.
655
00:35:14,457 --> 00:35:19,427
Six, Indians convicted of
stealing a horse, mule, cow,
656
00:35:19,423 --> 00:35:23,526
or any other valuable could
receive any number of lashes
657
00:35:23,523 --> 00:35:28,523
not to exceed 25, and
fines not to exceed $200.
658
00:35:28,922 --> 00:35:31,324
It should be noted that the
law provided that abusing
659
00:35:31,323 --> 00:35:34,592
an Indian child by Whites
was to be punished by no more
660
00:35:34,590 --> 00:35:36,790
than a $10 fine.
661
00:35:36,790 --> 00:35:39,760
It is hard to compare the
penalty with the crime.
662
00:35:43,090 --> 00:35:48,061
Seven, finally, an Indian
found strolling or loitering
663
00:35:48,057 --> 00:35:51,687
where alcohol was sold,
begging, or leading a profligate
664
00:35:51,690 --> 00:35:55,526
course of life would
be liable for arrest.
665
00:35:55,523 --> 00:36:00,093
The justice, mayor, or recorder
would make out a warrant.
666
00:36:00,090 --> 00:36:03,359
Within 24 hours, the services
of the Indian in question
667
00:36:03,357 --> 00:36:05,591
could be sold to
the highest bidder.
668
00:36:05,590 --> 00:36:08,760
The term of service would
not exceed four months.
669
00:36:13,390 --> 00:36:16,425
With all of the restrictions
and harsh punishments,
670
00:36:16,423 --> 00:36:20,560
along with the ability to
turn free natives into slaves,
671
00:36:20,557 --> 00:36:23,625
this Act left those natives
who managed to stay off
672
00:36:23,622 --> 00:36:27,622
of reservation no better
of than their brethren.
673
00:36:27,622 --> 00:36:30,158
If this Act was not enough to
make their lives troublesome
674
00:36:30,157 --> 00:36:35,057
at every turn, the impact that
miners had on the ecosystem
675
00:36:35,057 --> 00:36:38,059
added insult to injury.
676
00:36:38,057 --> 00:36:40,357
The huge influx of
people into California
677
00:36:40,357 --> 00:36:44,593
threw off the relationship
the Indians had with the land.
678
00:36:44,589 --> 00:36:46,649
Food supplies ran short,
679
00:36:46,656 --> 00:36:48,590
game would disappear,
680
00:36:48,589 --> 00:36:50,657
and places were food was
gathered would replaced
681
00:36:50,656 --> 00:36:53,886
with mining camps and
other settlements.
682
00:36:53,889 --> 00:36:57,059
Run off from the camps would
spill into rivers and streams
683
00:36:57,057 --> 00:36:59,587
further disrupting the land.
684
00:36:59,589 --> 00:37:02,189
What game in
agriculture did remain
685
00:37:02,190 --> 00:37:04,758
was battered and
beaten to a pulp
686
00:37:04,756 --> 00:37:06,923
by the harsh mining techniques
that were implemented
687
00:37:06,922 --> 00:37:08,622
during the rush.
688
00:37:08,622 --> 00:37:12,492
Gravel, silt, and
chemicals such as mercury
689
00:37:12,489 --> 00:37:15,629
would destroy habitats
and kill off fish.
690
00:37:17,190 --> 00:37:19,658
The Americans traveled
west carrying more than
691
00:37:19,656 --> 00:37:21,823
pick axes and hopes,
692
00:37:21,822 --> 00:37:25,222
they also brought
with them illness.
693
00:37:25,223 --> 00:37:28,292
They introduced diseases
such as small pox,
694
00:37:28,289 --> 00:37:32,159
influenza, and measles,
diseases that the Indians had
695
00:37:32,157 --> 00:37:34,527
no natural defense against.
696
00:37:38,489 --> 00:37:41,758
The decimation of their
population by foreign diseases,
697
00:37:41,756 --> 00:37:43,923
destruction of natural habitat,
698
00:37:43,922 --> 00:37:47,059
mountains, valleys,
rivers, and streams,
699
00:37:47,057 --> 00:37:50,117
along with the slow
genocide on all fronts
700
00:37:50,123 --> 00:37:53,759
from the invading Americans
and the government behind them
701
00:37:53,756 --> 00:37:57,292
is one of the low points
in American history.
702
00:37:57,289 --> 00:37:59,857
As California struggled
with the question of slavery
703
00:37:59,856 --> 00:38:02,156
of Blacks, they were
already treating
704
00:38:02,156 --> 00:38:05,056
the original inhabitants
as if they were less
705
00:38:05,056 --> 00:38:07,657
than equal to Whites.
706
00:38:07,656 --> 00:38:10,556
Many came to California
would open their hearts
707
00:38:10,556 --> 00:38:13,324
and faith that they would
return home to their families
708
00:38:13,322 --> 00:38:16,352
able to provide a better life.
709
00:38:16,356 --> 00:38:19,791
All too often this
did not happen.
710
00:38:19,789 --> 00:38:21,257
And as a result,
711
00:38:21,256 --> 00:38:24,524
the best of intentions can
become twisted and shaped
712
00:38:24,522 --> 00:38:28,362
into darker forces than
their initial iteration.
713
00:38:29,456 --> 00:38:32,456
Violence toward Indians was
born out of a simple racism
714
00:38:32,456 --> 00:38:35,824
and fear, but it also
manifested itself
715
00:38:35,822 --> 00:38:38,958
in the Argonauts'
frustrations and failures
716
00:38:38,955 --> 00:38:41,623
when the easy placer
gold becomes played out
717
00:38:41,622 --> 00:38:43,782
just making ends meet
in the gold fields
718
00:38:43,789 --> 00:38:45,623
gets harder and harder.
719
00:38:45,622 --> 00:38:48,558
The California dream
for so many Argonauts
720
00:38:48,556 --> 00:38:53,556
that sought California's
riches begins to fade.
721
00:38:53,622 --> 00:38:56,091
They turn their
frustrations with their own
722
00:38:56,089 --> 00:38:59,619
personal failures and
misguidedly take them out on the
723
00:38:59,622 --> 00:39:01,557
indigenous people.
724
00:39:01,556 --> 00:39:05,325
Indians would be killed
and chased away from claims
725
00:39:05,322 --> 00:39:09,559
in the baseless fear that
they would steal the gold.
726
00:39:09,556 --> 00:39:12,156
If an Indian struck
against a white minor,
727
00:39:12,156 --> 00:39:15,624
the retaliation was
tenfold, and most often
728
00:39:15,622 --> 00:39:17,590
it would be directed at
other Indians that had
729
00:39:17,589 --> 00:39:21,489
absolutely nothing to do
with the original dispute.
730
00:39:21,489 --> 00:39:25,125
The Indians were an easy
scapegoat for the Whites.
731
00:39:25,122 --> 00:39:28,322
Instead of facing the truth
about their own personal lots
732
00:39:28,322 --> 00:39:31,058
and accepting that they
have to return home,
733
00:39:31,056 --> 00:39:33,256
no better off than
when they set out,
734
00:39:33,256 --> 00:39:36,824
they chose instead to
lash out again and again
735
00:39:36,821 --> 00:39:41,431
at those who looked, acted, and
lived differently from them.
736
00:39:43,089 --> 00:39:47,859
In a mere 20 years
from 1849 through 1870,
737
00:39:47,855 --> 00:39:51,124
the population of indigenous
peoples living in California
738
00:39:51,122 --> 00:39:55,452
would drop from 150,000
to fewer than 30,000.
739
00:39:56,455 --> 00:39:59,457
The pre European numbers
were in the 300 thousands
740
00:39:59,455 --> 00:40:01,385
so by the time of the Gold Rush,
741
00:40:01,389 --> 00:40:04,891
their population has
already been decimated.
742
00:40:04,888 --> 00:40:09,058
Disease, displacement,
government sanction enslavement
743
00:40:09,056 --> 00:40:12,324
and eradication were
all contributing factors
744
00:40:12,322 --> 00:40:14,822
to the sharp decline.
745
00:40:14,821 --> 00:40:18,121
The California Gold Rush
changed the lives of millions of
746
00:40:18,122 --> 00:40:21,258
people around the world
but not all of that change
747
00:40:21,256 --> 00:40:24,924
was for the better, and not
all of the people changed
748
00:40:24,921 --> 00:40:27,690
began their journey willingly.
749
00:40:27,688 --> 00:40:31,624
There are many, many dark
days on the United States
750
00:40:31,621 --> 00:40:34,490
and its Americans would
treat would fellowmen
751
00:40:34,488 --> 00:40:37,788
as less than equal and
would cast them aside
752
00:40:37,788 --> 00:40:42,358
out of ignorance, pride, and
for their own personal gain.
753
00:40:44,221 --> 00:40:48,991
Manifest destiny, a
simple nebulous idea
754
00:40:48,988 --> 00:40:51,023
which was given its name
by a newspaper editor,
755
00:40:51,022 --> 00:40:54,322
John O. Sullivan in 1845,
756
00:40:54,321 --> 00:40:59,221
continues to fuel
the subconscious of thousands of Americans
757
00:40:59,221 --> 00:41:02,157
that when an idea
becomes so powerful
758
00:41:02,155 --> 00:41:04,555
that it sparks
people into action,
759
00:41:04,555 --> 00:41:09,425
it can be a very potent thing
to be reckoned with indeed.
760
00:41:11,903 --> 00:41:16,903
(dramatic music)
761
00:41:16,953 --> 00:41:21,503
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