Ch. 1

What made organizing or managing the gold rush difficult in the first year or so?

What factors helped some individual miners overcome the advantages that miners who arrived earlier had? 

 How did the initial gold rush in 1848 affect CA society?

Ch. 2

How did people back east initially react to early news of gold strike?  What helped change these initial reactions?

 What were the some factors behind developing gold fever and what were some symptoms?

Ch. 3

How was the gold rush emigration different from other emigrations Americans had undertaken before?

 What factors or reasons help encourage people to join the gold rush?  What factors worked against it?

 What concerns or fears did men express in their advice to those they left behind?

Ch. 4

What experiences mid seagoing Argonauts face? 

What key differences was there between the seagoing and land expeditions to CA?

 What were some of the experiences and sights that 49ers noticed or were surprised by when arriving in CA?

Ch. 5

What factors forced most 49ers to work together or join with others?

What strategies or methods did 4934s use to help overcome loneliness and isolation?

Ch. 6

What ways did the lack of women in CA affect male 49ers?

How and why did many 49ers distinguish among women who did live in CA?

Ch. 7

What was the impact of the Gold Rush on families left behind by 49ers?

Ch. 8

Once in CA, what problems or obstacles did 49ers face in order to get gold?

What other ways to some acquire wealth if not by finding gold?

Ch. 9 

Pay attention to the daily labor and struggles miners faced. 

What did miners spend their leisure time?

Ch. 10

Why did many choose to live in a city during this era?

What explained the success or failure of urban centers during gold rush CA?

Ch. 11

What factors and ideas shaped women’s decision to go or not to go to California?

What specific economic opportunities were available to women in CA?

What struggles or difficulties did women face?