America: Facts vs Fiction - Fool's Gold (Season 2 Episode 1)
Description:
The real facts behind America's biggest economic boom and biggest bust will shock you. On this episode of America: Facts vs. Fiction, discover a treasure of nuggets about the California gold rush and the Stock Market Crash of 1929.
Highlights:
- North Carolina experienced the first gold rush in the U.S. (in 1799)
- Georgia experienced the second gold rush in the U.S. (in 1828)
- The California Gold Rush was actually the third god rush in the U.S. (1849), but two things made it so memorable and lasting: the gold was found on Federal land (making it available to any one to mine) and the amount of gold was massive
- Interestingly, the biggest danger was Disease (thanks to poor sanitation practices and lack of clean water)
- One in Five miners died in the first six months
- One in Four miners arrived in California from outside the U.S.
- The people who actually became rich were the store or supply owners.
- A store owner named Sam Brannan was California's first millionaire
- The California Gold Rush pretty much died down around 1860
Check your local library for a copy or you can watch it via Stream here:
No comments:
Post a Comment