Links:
Parents: These are links that can be used to teach the California gold rush and related subjects. These sites contain material that is not always suitable for children. You will want to visit the sites and select the pages that are appropriate for each child you are teaching. Then visit the pages with your child in order to ensure he does not follow a link you don't want. One way to do this might be to list all the appropriate pages in a separate favorites file, and click down them in order. Another way is to print the pages you want, or save them to a disk, eliminating anything you don't want them to read. Remember, that while a teenager may need to know all the facts about the Gold Rush, some things going on in this rough male adventurer's environment were immoral, and might not be appropriate for each child.
California History Links
An Overview of Early California History
GOLD RUSH LINKS:
The Gold Rush Part of PBS Online. An outstanding site with good information and photos. Includes a teacher's section with vocabulary lists, tests and lesson ideas. Meant to enhance the video, but can be used alone. Be sure to read the fun facts.
Read Sutter's own account of this event. This site has many first-person accounts of the gold rush.
PBS had a television series on the west which covered the gold rush. Check out their site to learn more.
A chronology with links.
The Land of Glittering Dreams Modern photographs and journals of people who were there.
Stages, Coaches, Wagons, Carriages
The Over-land Trail Very detailed site with lots of enrichment material.
Gold
Facts About Gold for older students-a good start to a science unit on gold and other rocks.
Other gold rushes
Klondike Special Report a thorough account of Seattle and the Alaskan gold rush.
Mormon Battalion Links
The official Mormon Battalion Homepage
Native Americans and the Battalion
Mormon Pioneer anniversary celebration. Includes articles on women who traveled with the battallion.
a footnoted article by a BYU history professor.
A site about the Battalion, including documents, on-going research and re-enactments.
Mormon Pioneer sites:
The official LDS pioneer site. Very extensive.
Plains Indians
A map of places each tribe lived.
Creation/Migration/Origin Stories stories the Native Americans told
Chinese:
Contributions of Chinese-Americans to the Development of the United States This is a project by high school students and includes a section on the gold rush.
Immigration
Immigration material by a tenth grade class.
Mexican War (In which we won California):
The Bear Flag Revolt and The Mexican War Article, only one graphic.
Jason and the Golden Fleece (A literature event):
An illustrated on-line book for children. Use to find out why the gold rushers were called argonauts.
Bullfinch's Mythology The authority. This version has links.