Question

Though there was a lot of gold to be found in the Klondike at the time, striking it rich was not a guarantee. Reread paragraphs 1-5. What drove people to join the gold rush? Highlight textual evidence and make annotations to explain your answer.

Answer 1

The California Gold Rush was primarily driven by the allure of gold and the prospects of making a quick fortune. Despite the tedium and risk associated with it, the chance to become wealthy drew thousands to new discovery sites across the West.

Step-by-step explanation:

As evident from the text, the primary drivers for people to join the gold rush , particularly in this instance, the California Gold Rush , were the prospects of making a quick fortune. The allure of gold incited wild quests, as it represented a significant deviation from the tedious progress that homesteading farmers had to contend with. Textual evidence such as 'the possibility of quick riches' and miners looking to 'get rich quick' underscore these motivations. Gold strikes like the one at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California caused a flurry of prospectors to arrive at new discovery sites, eager to cash in on the extraordinary wealth these sites promised. Despite the risk and uncertainty, the desire to find gold and amass wealth swiftly drove thousands towards the West in search of prosperity.

Learn more about Gold Rush