Miners

Who were the miners?

Miners were pioneers who travelled west to pan for precious metals, such as gold.

Why did the miners go west?

Gold was discovered at Sutter's Fort, California. This led to a rush of miners to the area in 1849 - hence their nickname, 'forty-niners'.

Where did the miners come from?

Initially the miners came from the eastern states of the US but, as word spread, they came from Europe and Asia too.

What was life like for miners?

Life in the mining camps was hard, with long, hot days and uncomfortable nights in temporary shelters. Many men did not make enough money to stay long and went home empty-handed.

What was law and order like in the miners' camps?

The mining population grew so quickly that law and order could not be introduced fast enough. This resulted in several problems:

• ❖ Californian law set out guidelines on how much land settlers could claim, and gave them the right to any gold found there. This was called 'staking a claim'. It sometimes led to 'claim jumping', where others stole claims from their rightful owners.
• ❖ Lack of regulation meant people often tricked others into staking a claim, by laying a few flakes of gold on the land. This was called 'salting a claim'. Others robbed prospectors as they came to view land.
• ❖ Widespread prostitution and the availability of alcohol led to many fights. Guns were readily available, so fights could be very dangerous.
• ❖ The gold rush attracted many people from different countries, cultures, religions, and ways of life. This could lead to conflict, tensions and violence.

How did miners deal with law and order?

Mining towns needed to settle disputes, but did not have easy access to law and order. As a result, they agreed their own rules, appointed a recorder to record disputes, and had their own courts and judges to dispense justice. Vigilantes were also common.

What was the impact of miners on the Native American population?

Miners, and the towns that grew up around the gold rush, took land and resources from the Native Americans. Their movement disturbed the buffalo. The people also brought diseases the Native Americans had not experienced before, meaning they experienced high fatality rates. All this led to conflict and wars, such as Red Cloud's War.