The Mining Boom

Objective: Explain how mining affected the US during the late 1800s

Do Now: What do you think tare the chances of getting rich during the Gold Rush?

Western Mining- Miners raced across the continent, hoping to strike

it rich.- Gold rush Pikes Peak, Colorado 1858- Comstock Lode- one of the world’s richest silver

veins located in Nevada- In 20 years mined $500 million worth of precious metals.

- Patio Process- method introduced by Hispanics which used mercury to extract silver

from ore.

Seward’s Folly• US Secretary of State William H. Seward

negotiated purchase of Alaska in 1867–Less than 2 cents an acre!– he was ridiculed, but he remained

confident “possess treasure…. Equal to those of any other region of the continent.”

Discovery of gold leads to Klondike Gold Rush

• Pg.418-419

Life in Mining Communities• Mining camps sprang up over night. – Mostly men

• The Settlers– All different nationalities– From rich to poor– Competition led to discrimination, especially

Chinese

• Instability– Tension between ethnic groups led to fighting

• Deadwood, SD

– Vigilante committees due to absence of law enforcement

–Over time, miners formed unions to fight wage cuts and dangerous working conditions.

–As camps grew into towns, it began to stabilize. • Owners of saloons and stores more likely

to get rich!• Families start coming.

Mining

as

Big

Business

Two

Methods

• Hydraulic mining–Water shot at high pressure ripped

away ravel and dirt to expose minerals beneath

• Hard-rock mining–Sinking deep shafts to obtain ore

locked in veins of rocks