8th Grade, Part III:

Gold Rush Technology and the Environment

by Donna Leary




Overview and Rationale:


When the Gold Rush began, thousands of people flocked to California
in pursuit of fortune. This influx of gold seekers brought innumerable
changes to the region, formerly inhabited primarily by Native Americans
and Mexicans. 


As "the world rushed in" to California, miners developed and used a
variety of technologies. Experts today look with amazement at the scale
of technology during the Gold Rush. Some mining methods during the Gold
Rush had a greater impact on the environment than others. For example,
hydraulic mining exacted a great toll on the environment, contrasted with
the use of the cradle or rocker. 


It is important that students look at advances in technology and realize
that with advancements there are both positive and negative consequences.
Our students need to be able to recognize these consequences in order to
make informed decisions for the future. The Gold Rush is a good event to
study in terms of technology's effect on the environment. It set a precedent
for dealing with other, later environmental issues in California in such
areas as agriculture, oil and water. 


Focus Questions:



How did mining technology advance as a result of the Gold Rush? What
impact did this have on the environment and on how people lived and worked? 


Framework Connection:



"The Divergent Paths of the American People: 1800-1850" of the California
Framework looks at the region of the West and its influence on the
nation. "Students should be encouraged to view historical events empathetically
as though they were there, working in places such as the mines." In addition,
as a part of geographic literacy, teachers are encouraged to help students
explore "the ways people and environments interact in the human modification
of the landscape." 


Student Learnings:



a. Students will examine written and visual primary sources and gather
information about various technologies used to mine gold during the Gold
Rush. 


b. Students will assess which technologies had more impact on the environment. 


c. Students will simulate a city council meeting, discussing pros and
cons of a large nearby mining project. They vote on whether to approve
the project. 


A Brief Look at the Lesson:



Lesson 1 begins with students brainstorming about current advances
in technologies. Student groups then mix and match primary source descriptions
and visuals of various types of Gold Rush mining technologies. Students
record their findings on a graphic organizer. The whole class then discusses
possible impacts on the environment of the various technologies. 


Assessment:



Students simulate a city council meeting, discussing a large nearby
mining project from various viewpoints. The "council" then votes on whether
to approve the project. 



















Part III, Overview 




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