Website Spotlight: Gold Rush

Website URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/

The parts of this website which I find especially useful are the following:

Gold Rush (American Experience)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/
Special Features: Online Poll--Journey of the Forty-Niners
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/sfeature/poll.html
a. Over the Oregon-California Trail
http://pbskids.org/wayback/goldrush/journey_oregon.html
b. Panama shortcut
http://pbskids.org/wayback/goldrush/journey_panama.html
c. Around Cape Horn (the tip of South America)
http://pbskids.org/wayback/goldrush/journey_capehorn.html
Special Features: Gold Rush Game: Strike it Rich
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/sfeature/game.html
Best of History Web Sites: http://www.besthistorysites.net/

I. The Film & More

The websites noted in "Further Reading" are particularly well chosen.

II. Special Features--all three of these are worth the time

A. Online Poll--Journey of the Forty-Niners

1. Over the Oregon-California Trail
2. Panama shortcut
3. Around Cape Horn (the tip of South America)

B. Native Americans in the Gold Rush

C. Interactive Gold Rush Game: Who Will Strike it Rich?

1. White man from upstate New York
2. Californio man from Los Angeles
3. Chinese man
4. Chilean man
5. White woman from Missouri

III. People & Events--several help highlight the complicated racial and ethnic mix

"Mexicans in the Gold Rush
"Chinese Immigrants and the Gold Rush"
"Stephen Spencer Hill and African Americans in the Gold Rush"

IV. Map
Excellent map shows 8 major "strikes" in the California Gold Rush

V. Timeline

This timeline is especially well annotated.

VI. Teacher's Guide

Make your choice from several wonderful suggestions.


On my Learning Professor wiki, this website fits within the following U.S. History survey course module:
http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/Expansion