Days of Gold Discussion Questions (185-282)

Ch. 12

How did mining change by 1850?

How did changing expectations of 49ers affect how they thought and connected to those back home?

How did 49ers see the relation between hard work and their own values?

Ch. 13

In what ways did money and capital become more important to the mining experience?

How were the experiences of second generation miners like Alonzo Hubbard different from original 49ers?

Ch. 14

What factors help explain American hostility towards foreigners in early CA?

In what ways did Americans’ express or demonstrate their hostility or hatred of foreigners?

Ch. 15-16

What was the impact of the longer period of separation from home and family that second generation miners experienced?

What factors or needs to 49ers have to consider when sending money home?

Ch. 17

Who participated or shaped the decision of when to return?

What factors or issues shaped the miners’ decision to return?

What does the fact that many returned to CA at least once or more times tell us about the impact of the initial experience on them?

Ch. 18

How did 49ers views of CA change as gold mining diminished?