Description:
In this text, Mark Eifler examines the experiences of the miners, demonstrates how the gold rush affected the United States, and traces the development of California and the American West in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Review Quotes:
Clearly written and well-organized, Mark Eifler's The California Gold Rush effectively situates the events of that remarkable era within the larger framework of antebellum American history. With admirable brevity and an astute eye for the telling anecdote, he has produced a volume that will no doubt serve well in the classroom.
Peter Blodgett, H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts, Huntington Library
This engaging book explains how the gold rush transformed not only California and the West but also America and the world. Combining lively prose with a rich trove of primary sources, Mark Eifler provides a fresh, insightful summary of one of the most significant mass migrations in history.
John M. Findlay, Professor of History, University of Washington, Seattle