Home > History > U.S. History > III. Expansion and Reform--1801-1861
III. Expansion and Reform--1801-1861
On this page:
- After the Gold Rush
- American Inventors and Inventions
- California Trail Virtual Tour-The Road to California, 1849
- California's Untold Stories: Gold Rush!
- The Chinese (and the California Gold Rush)
- Discovering Lewis and Clark
- The Discovery of Gold in California (Gold in the Water)
- Early California History : Government and Law (American Memory from the Library of Congress)
- Gold Rush Tour
- The Gold Rush
- The Great Leap Westward: Federally-sponsored Exploration from the 1840s to the Civil War
- The Journey (California Gold Rush)
- The Louisiana Purchase
- Notorious: Rocking Chair
- Of Dreams of Dirt (California Gold Rush)
- The Oregon Trail
- Sacramento Bee Article : Indians' Misfortune was Stamped in Gold
- Sacramento Bee Article : State's Latinos Lost in the Rush
- Sacramento Bee Article: Chinese Transformed "Gold Mountain"
- TeachersFirst's Inventor's Workshop
After the Gold Rush
http://kidport.com/reflib/usahistory/calgoldrush
/AfterGoldRush.htm
Did you know that right after the gold rush California's population increased to more than 300,000 people? This site has interesting and helpful information about the changes of California, in terms of population, construction, and the environment, after the gold rush. The site also has useful information about the California Gold Rush.
- Student Author: Jeyanthi B.
- Teacher: Jim Rouse
- This site helped Jim Rouse's class answer the question(s) "How did California change physically and population wise after the discovery of gold?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
American Inventors and Inventions
http://www.150.si.edu/150trav/remember/amerinv.htm
If you need a web site on American inventors and inventions of 1780-1900, then this is a site for you. I think this is a good site for information about inventors and inventions because it has great photos of inventions. If you click on a photo it will tell you about the invention and the inventor. This web site has all the information you would need. I recommend it to students age 10 and above. This site is also very easy to read and contains accurate information.
- Student Author: Asime Z.
- Teacher: Kathy Nelson
- This site helped Kathy Nelson's class answer the question(s) "Who were the inventors during the Industrial Revolution (1790-1900) and what did they invent?"
- Technology Teacher: Jill Cohan
- School: Ray F. Sennett Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
California Trail Virtual Tour-The Road to California, 1849
http://calcite.rocky.edu/octa/intro.htm
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to travel to California during the Gold Rush? Well, this site will tell you all you need to know. It has tons of pictures, and a lot of valuable, accurate information. And it is set up as a virtual tour of the trail so it is like you are actually traveling the trail yourself. This site gives you an excellent idea of the hardships people going west faced. This site would probably be good for anyone curious about the Gold Rush as well as people who are doing research. This site was created by Randy Wagner who does a wonderful job of giving accurate facts. Overall, a superb site!
- Student Author: Emily L.
- Teacher: Jan Tuccinardi
- This site helped Jan Tuccinardi's class answer the question(s) "What would it be like to travel to California during the Gold Rush?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
California's Untold Stories: Gold Rush!
www.museumca.org/goldrush
What would it be like to hear news of gold, instant wealth and fame for the taking? The Oakland museum's website captured the excitement of the 1849 gold miners. This site has lots of information and pictures on the Gold Rush, and it covers the different perspectives of a miner, a woman, a Californian Indian, a African-American, a Californio, and a Chinese immigrant. This information would be very useful for writing essays or poetry on the different perspectives of the Gold Rush.
- Student Author: Jamie B.
- Teacher: Jim Rouse
- This site helped Jim Rouse's class answer the question(s) "What was it like to be an African-American, Chinese immigrant, Californian Indian, Californio, or woman in the Gold Rush?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
The Chinese (and the California Gold Rush)
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist6/chinhate.html
This site, sponsored by the Museum of the City of San Francisco and written by Henry Kittredge Norton, offers detailed information on how the Chinese were treated during the Gold Rush. An analysis of the validity of the grievances against the Chinese is found after all relevant information is presented. The role of the Chinese and the treatment they received is thoroughly discussed. All measures that are considered anti-Chinese are included and the consequences of these actions follow. The presentation of the written material and pictures is easy to follow, and the writing is authoritative and directed at anyone interested about this subject. Therefore, this web site is recommended for researching the experiences of the Chinese immigrants during the Gold Rush.
- Student Author: Melissa D.
- Teacher: Jim Rouse
- This site helped Jim Rouse's class answer the question(s) "How were the Chinese treated during the Gold Rush?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
Discovering Lewis and Clark
http://www.lewis-clark.org/index.htm
If you need a site for Lewis and Clark information, go to the site that makes it feel like you're on the trail with them. There's great graphics, even a program at the beginning of the web site that allows you to travel the trail from a bird's eye view. As you go along the trail it gives you information on each important part of the trip and a neat picture to go along with it. This site also provides parts of the journal used, with Quicktime movies to illustrate. In short, this site provides great information on Lewis and Clark and the trail they chose.
- Student Author: Breckken G.
- Teacher: Karen Vieth
- This site helped Karen Vieth's class answer the question(s) "Who were the people involved in the Westward Expansion in the United States and how did their stories and experiences compare?"
- Technology Teacher: Jill Cohan
- School: Ray F. Sennett Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
The Discovery of Gold in California (Gold in the Water)
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist2/gold.html
Using water to help build a mill! That is how gold was found in California. This site is an accurate description of how gold was found in the state of California. The author? A very reliable source, "Hutching" California Magazine, from November 1857. The thing I liked most about this site was the great pictures of all the famous people in the Gold Rush. The only thing I didn't like was the useless information I found while reading. This site helped me make my costume for my drama to the class. Many questions are answered in this site. The site is from a magazine, so no feelings are expressed. I would say the audiences targeted are mostly adults. This is a primary source because it is straight from a magazine printed in 1857.
- Student Author: Miles V.
- Teacher: Jan Tuccinardi
- This site helped Jan Tuccinardi's class answer the question(s) "What procedures did James Marshall and others use to find gold in California?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
Early California History : Government and Law (American Memory from the Library of Congress)
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cbhtml/cbgovern.html
This site, titled "Government and Law" informs giving fresh and detailed descriptions of governing in California during the Gold Rush. This site explains what kind of government the mining camps had throughout the time period of the late 1840s and early 1850s. It explains if and how the laws were strictly enforced. The author of this site is not stated. "Government and Law" leaves no room for opinions, for the author does not portray any personal beliefs in this factual site.
- Student Author: Ilana S.
- Teacher: Jan Tuccinardi
- This site helped Jan Tuccinardi's class answer the question(s) "Was there any form of organized government during the period of the Gold Rush in California?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
Gold Rush Tour
http://colapublib.org/libs/rosemead/tour3.html
Have you ever wondered what happened to the land of California when the 49'ers started hunting for gold? Well, this site explains the effects of hydraulic mining on the land. This site is a branch off of the Rosemead Public Library in California. This site is easy to navigate and allows you to research into other areas of the California Gold Rush as well. The site should be used by late elementary to early high school students for information.
- Student Author: Margaret M.
- Teacher: Jim Rouse
- This site helped Jim Rouse's class answer the question(s) "What happened to the land during the California Gold Rush?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
The Gold Rush
http://www.pbs.org/goldrush/
If you're doing a project or paper about the Gold Rush, this site is perfect for you. This site is done by the guys at PBS, so you can be assured of its quality and accuracy. Although the site can be a little frustrating to navigate at times because there aren't any links between consecutive pages, you have to go back to the main page. The sponsor of this site is Wells Fargo, which is a bank that was established during the Gold Rush. I learned about this because the most interesting section of this web page describes many famous people that were related to the Gold Rush. Very fascinating and useful, as is the rest of the site.
- Student Author: Tony L.
- Teacher: Jim Rouse
- This site helped Jim Rouse's class answer the question(s) "What did miners do after the Gold Rush?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
The Great Leap Westward: Federally-sponsored Exploration from the 1840s to the Civil War
http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/University_Library/exhibits
/ames/leap.html
Are you looking for a colorful and descriptive answer to all your important questions about boomtowns during the California Gold Rush? If so then check out this relatively new site made specifically for history classes like yours and mine. This interesting new site answered all my questions in a few short sentences and beautiful photographs and paintings from 1849-1856. How many times have you been searching for a good site for information when all you could find are large expanses of words that give you a headache (or vice-versus)? This site made in 2001 merges pictures and words to make a fun, yet educational experience.
- Student Author: Lars K.
- Teacher: Jim Rouse
- This site helped Jim Rouse's class answer the question(s) "What buildings are in California Boomtowns and what do they look like?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
The Journey (California Gold Rush)
http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/journey.html
Have you ever wondered what kind of problems people faced when travelling to California during the Gold Rush? This site tells it all: the three main travel routes (Oregon Trail, through Panama, and around the tip of South America), the pros and cons of each route, and quotes from travellers up against the hardships. I liked the detailed description and visuals of the three main routes to California. PBS did a great job on "The Journey."
- Student Author: Joseph S.
- Teacher: Jan Tuccinardi
- This site helped Jan Tuccinardi's class answer the question(s) "How did people travel to California?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
The Louisiana Purchase
http://members.tripod.com/~jtlawson/
The Louisiana Purchase has been an important treaty for over years and years. I recommend this site for those who are doing a report or quick project on the Louisiana Purchase. It shows a stupendous amount of pictures and maps. The people who established the Louisiana Purchase are also featured on the web site.
- Student Author: Chia L.
- Teacher: Karen Vieth
- This site helped Karen Vieth's class answer the question(s) "Who were the people involved in the Westward Expansion in the United States and how did their stories and experiences compare?"
- Technology Teacher: Jill Cohan
- School: Ray F. Sennett Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
Notorious: Rocking Chair
http://museumstudies.si.edu/movingon/project/oakland
/chair.html
Do you know who aided Archy Lee, a famous slave whose landmark trial helped protest slavery in California, escape? Notorious is a two page website that supplies information on May Ellen Pleasant, who helped fight for civil rights during the time of the gold rush, by helping slaves escape to Canada and "free" areas of the United States. I liked the graphics and how the text was easy to understand, but I wish it had more information on her early life. The site, sponsored by Susheel Bibbs, provided answers to my questions about aiders or harborers in the underground railroad during the 1850's. For information on an important woman, who provided help on the Underground Railroad, this is a great site to visit!
- Student Author: Sandy D.
- Teacher: Jan Tuccinardi
- This site helped Jan Tuccinardi's class answer the question(s) "What women helped on the underground railroad in the 1850's?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
Of Dreams of Dirt (California Gold Rush)
http://www.shakethestate.com/goldrush/dreamsanddirt.shtml
If you're looking for gold and riches, you will find it at the website
- Student Author: Riley M.
- Teacher: Jan Tuccinardi
- This site helped Jan Tuccinardi's class answer the question(s) "How did different heritages get along?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
The Oregon Trail
http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Oregontrail.html
Have you ever wondered what the people on the Oregon Trail were thinking? Have you ever heard of a cow that started a war? This site is an informative and interesting web site about the Oregon Trail. The site contains many realistic photographs and graphics, and provides tons of information on the discoverers and explorers of the Oregon Trail, maps of the route, and an idea of camping life. Along with the history, this site also has fun and interesting facts, such as the $100 drink of water, weird wagons, the cow that started the war, and diaries and memoirs from those that experienced the Trail. The site is easy to read and understand, and navigation is simple. There are plenty of working links for you to click, and even a shop where you can buy videos and books.
- Student Author: Angela P.
- Teacher: Karen Vieth
- This site helped Karen Vieth's class answer the question(s) "Who were the people involved in the Westward Expansion in the United States and how did their stories and experiences compare?"
- Technology Teacher: Jill Cohan
- School: Ray F. Sennett Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
Sacramento Bee Article : Indians' Misfortune was Stamped in Gold
http://www.calgoldrush.com/part3/03native.html
If you're looking for a great site on Native Americans during the gold rush, this is it. This site has many words about the gold rush and plenty of pictures. This site answered three of my questions, what problems did they face? How did the gold rush affect natives? And what happens when miners find gold on Native land? The author doesn't share their feelings at all. The audience is anybody who wants to learn some history. This is a secondary source because the author did not witness the event.
- Student Author: Dan P.
- Teacher: Jan Tuccinardi
- This site helped Jan Tuccinardi's class answer the question(s) "How did the Gold Rush affect Native Americans?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
Sacramento Bee Article : State's Latinos Lost in the Rush
http://www.calgoldrush.com/part3/03/mexicans.html
This unbiased site, entitled "State's Latinos Lost in the Rush", is a great example of how the Hispanics living in the west U.S. suffered through the hardships caused by the California Gold Rush in 1849. It is overflowing with interesting facts and people, and contains appropriate graphics. Ken Chavez wrote this site and intended it to be for people of all ages who are interested in learning about the Hispanics' perspective of the Gold Rush. I really liked how the site went in a logical order. It didn't skip around, making it very easy to understand.
- Student Author: Sam K.
- Teacher: Jim Rouse
- This site helped Jim Rouse's class answer the question(s) "What were some specific examples of how Latinos were affected by the California Gold Rush?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
Sacramento Bee Article: Chinese Transformed "Gold Mountain"
http://www.calgoldrush.com/part3/03asians.html
Did you know that over the course of several years, more than 20,000 Chinese immigrated to California to find gold? This site was a wonderful source for an introduction and in-depth information about the rush for gold. You can explore and learn about Californians, Mexicans, Asians, and methods of digging from the Sacramento Bee's main page. From primary and secondary sources, this site gathered material together to form an informative easy-to-use guide for the researching eighth grade student.
- Student Author: Yaoli P.
- Teacher: Jim Rouse
- This site helped Jim Rouse's class answer the question(s) "How did the Chinese first found out about the gold rush?"
- Librarian: Julie Weis
- School: Velma Hamilton Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
TeachersFirst's Inventor's Workshop
http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/inventor/index.htm
This site has a wonderful description of inventors and inventions of the Industrial Revolution. Colorful graphics and understandable descriptions make it easy to remember. At the end of all the information pages, there is an easy quiz that you may take to see how well you remembered. The information should be correct since it is a teacher resource web site. Anybody in fifth grade or older is good for this fantastic site. If any invention or inventor is to be researched on, this web site is the best.
- Student Author: Becky M.
- Teacher: Kathy Nelson
- This site helped Kathy Nelson's class answer the question(s) "Who were the inventors during the Industrial Revolution (1790-1900) and what did they invent?"
- Technology Teacher: Jill Cohan
- School: Ray F. Sennett Middle School
- Year: 2001-2002
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Internet Detectives is a publication produced by Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) middle school students as a resource for other K-12 students. It is an ongoing, cooperative effort of middle school Social Studies classrooms. Students find, evaluate and recommend Internet resources related to the curriculum. This project is supported by MMSD's Teaching and Learning Department and Library Media Services.
These Internet resources were evaluated on the basis of Site Selection Guidelines. Questions and comments regarding specific sites can be sent to the classroom teachers listed with the student author and school.
Questions or comments regarding the Internet Detectives project can be sent to Barb Spitz at bspitz@madison.k12.wi.us or (608) 663-1976.
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