Gold Rush! engaging primary source bundle (4th - 8th grade)

***Google Classroom Compatible – these Microsoft Word documents can also be saved as Google Docs and used in Google or other digital classrooms

This download includes ALL THREE of the gold rush primary source resources described below. Each resource has been formatted to fit perfectly on two pages (or one paper, front and back). Each resource includes both a PDF version, and a fully-editable MS WORD version. Each resource contains:

*** background explaining the the source
*** primary source text that is accessible for 4th - 8th grade
*** text-dependent questions (DOK 1, 2 and 3)
*** Images of primary sources for discussion

Part 1: Newspaper Coverage - “Enthusiasm of Gold Washing still continues, and increases” - 1848

Background: The following article comes from the June 10th, 1848 publication of the California Star. The California Star was founded in 1847. Its rival newspaper suspended publication in May of 1848 since all of the employees left for the gold fields. Four days after this publication (June 14th), the California Star also closed permanently as its employees all left for the gold fields, too.

Part 2: An Excerpt from “Hasting to Be Rich” Sermon from 1849

Background: Reverend E.L. Cleaveland was a preacher in Connecticut. In this sermon, he warned of the danger of loving money, just as Jesus warned in the gospels. The following excerpt was the introduction to one of his sermons in January of 1849. In it, he discusses the developments of the impending Gold Rush in California.

Part 3: "MINERS' TEN COMMANDMENTS" - 1853

Background: The Miner’s Ten Commandments were published in the Placerville Herald newspaper in 1853. Placerville is a foothill town east of Sacramento. The author, James Hutchings, make a great deal of money printing these as letters (pictured on the right). It was so popular, that he was able to launch his own magazine; Hutching's California Magazine.