Lesson 1: Treaties, Gold Rushes, and Native Americans
The Gold Rushes
In 1849, following the discovery of gold in California, more people crossed the Plains westward than had made the continental crossing in all previous years. It’s not surprising that a newspaper editor, during this time, informed his readers that if the United States government acquired territory on the moon, “the Yankees would contrive some plan to emigrate to it.” He well could have added that if gold were discovered on the moon it would have the same effect.
Such was the nature of the people the Native Americans saw invading their homeland. That the Indians possessed this same staunch stubbornness in their endeavors to hold their land and keep the whites out, history leaves little doubt. However, the whites, vastly outnumbering the Indians, produced a replenishing stream by means of immigration from Europe and other lands. This was an advantage the Indians did not have.
Even before the discovery of California’s gold ,the government deemed it necessary to establish a means of protection for those whose destination was Oregon Country. In 1846, well over $87,500 was authorize to establish military forts along the Oregon Trail. These funds were also intended to man and equip the forts, while $2,000 of the money was to compensate the Indian tribes who claimed possession of the lands where each fort would be built.
The first Fort Kearny, not to be confused with the later Fort Phil Kearney built along the Bozeman Trail in Wyoming, was located in Nebraska but was nearly deserted within a year due to the need for troops to fight the Mexican War. A second Fort Kearny, built in 1847 and originally called Fort Childs, was also intended to protect the Oregon Trail.
Prior to the building of the two Fort Kearnys in Nebraska, about the only protection afforded travelers anywhere near the Oregon Trail was Fort Leavenworth, in present-day Kansas. Built in 1827, its intended function was to protect the Santa Fe Trail.
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Aiding in this meager protection for travelers was Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming.
Laramie had originally been a fur post called Fort William. Then, in 1834, it became an adobe-walled enclosure and was known as Fort John. In 1849, the government purchased it for $4,000 and it became a military post called Fort Laramie. Such was the military protection provided travelers along the Oregon Trail, and eventually the California Trail.
Pike’s Peak, Colorado
The California gold rush was only the beginning of a westward movement inspired by visions of riches. The rush began anew when, in 1857, Chiefs Little Beaver and Fall Leaf with their band of Delawares rode into Lawrence, Kansas and displayed some quills of gold dust. When asked by excited residents where they’d gotten it, they pointed westward towards the setting sun. The result was, by 1858, a mining camp along the banks of Cherry Creek in present-day Colorado. Now the Pike’s Peak gold rush was in full swing. One year later, in 1859, gold was discovered in Nevada.
Want to learn more about the gold rushes in Colorado and Nevada, or what it was like to cross the Plains westward? Check out these excelent articles.
The Comstock Lode By Elizabeth Gibson http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/old_... Gold and silver strikes made millionaires and paupers, settled new cities, and civilized many parts of the West. But no other strike had more influence than the Comstock Lode discovered on Mount Davidson in western Nevada.
Cripple Creek Mining District By Elizabeth Gibson http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/old_... Cripple Creek is about 25 miles west of Pike's Peak, in Central Colorado. Cripple Creek got its name from drovers when a frightened calf jumped over a fence, landed in a gully and broke its leg.
Women Bound Westward By Katie Anne Gustafsson http://www.suite101.com/articles.cfm/wom... Article about the role of women during the overland journey to the American West.
The source for this section is:
Willison, George F. The Gold Rush: The Search For Treasure in the American West. The above information is located on page 11.
