California Education Institute
At no time in the history of the United States were people from more diverse backgrounds thrown
together in one geographical location at one moment. White Americans, African Americans,
Mexicans, French, Chileans, and the Chinese all jockeyed for desirable positions in the volatile world
of the mining camps. In doing so, they helped define their place in California society of the 19th and
early 20th centuries. Through lecture, discussion, and analysis of primary documents and
photographs, LAUSD teachers will gain a rich and sophisticated understanding of the complex world
of Gold Rush era California.
