Stage1DesiredResults

EstablishedGoals
CAHistoryincludinggoldrush,Constitution,missions
Understandings
StudentswillunderstandthatCAsgoldrushhaddifferent
impactsforthevariousimmigrantgroupsthatmigratedtoCA.
TheeventsleadinguptothegoldrushinfluencedCA
becomingthe31ststate.

EssentialQuestions
Whataresomeofthe
challengesimmigrantsfacein
newcountries/regions?

Studentswillknowvariousimmigrantgroupsandtheirexperiences,landandsearoutesto
CA,theorganizationoftheCAmissionstructure,andhowCAbecameastate.

Studentswillbeabletowritealetterfromtheperspectiveofanimmigranttotheirfamiliesor
conductaninterviewtolearnabouttheimmigrantexperience.
Stage2AssessmentEvidence
PerformanceTasks
IntervieworLetter

OtherEvidence
Otherwritingassignments
Mapofroutes
Stage3LearningPlan

LearningActivities
Day1:IntroductionMr.BsPPT,IntroducePerformanceTask,AnalyzeDocs,HW:Write
fromDaughtersPerspective
Day2:GoldRushVocabulary,IntroduceJohnSutter,GraphicNovel,AnalyzeDocs
Day3:RoutestoCaliforniaInteractiveBook,AnalyzeDocs,HW:Mapoutpossibleroutes
Day4:PerspectivesHuntington(Pg.50),ConceptMap,ExpertGroupstofilloutMindMap
Day5:PerspectivesStatistics
Day6:PerspectivesBigBook,PoemWriting
Day7:PerspectivesJigsawandfilloutProcessChart,GraphicNovelpanelsfromYOUR
perspective
Day8:WomeninCaliforniaStatistics,ReadingsandQuestions
Day9:CaliforniaStatehoodMissionsFatherSerra
Day10:PerformanceTaskInterviewingandLetterWriting

Vocabulary
indigenous

squatter

discrimination

brogue

intelligence

claim

diversity

prospector

route

scarce

transcontinental

settlement

strike

toiled

migration

ethnicity

famine

exclude

isolation

Day1
IntroductionMr.BsPPT,IntroducePerformanceTask,AnalyzeDocs,HW:Writefrom
DaughtersPerspective

Day2
GoldRushVocabulary,IntroduceJohnSutter,GraphicNovel,AnalyzeDocs

VocabularyCrosswordPuzzle
BrieflectureonJohnSutter
Havestudentsreadgraphicnovelingroups
Explainthatlaterontheywillbedrawingtheirownpanelforagraphicnovelfromthe
perspectiveofsomeoneingoldcountry
HavestudentsreadJohnSuttersaccountandanswerrelatedquestions

GoldRush&ImmigrationCrosswordPuzzle

indigenous

squatter

discrimination

brogue

intelligence

claim

diversity

prospector

route

scarce

transcontinental

settlement

strike

toiled

migration

ethnicity

famine

exclude

isolation

Across
2.differences
6.discover
8.gold
12.path
13.prejudice
14.work
15.nationality
16.establishment

17.miner
18.right

Down
1.journey
3.native
4.across
5.seclusion
7.starvation
9.information
10.ignore
11.accent
4

BACKGROUNDINFORMATIONONJOHNSUTTERfromHuntingtonLibrary,Art
Collections,andGardens(summarizedlecturenotes)

JohnAugustusSutter,aGermanbornandSwisseducatedimmigrant,cametoAmerica
in1834.
AfterarrivingintheUnitedStates,hepurchasedlandinMissouri.In1838,hegaveup
hisMissourihomesteadandventuredoverlandontheOregonTrail.Afterabriefstayhe
continuedtomovewestwardtotheSandwichIslands(Hawaii).
In1839hesetsailforAltaCaliforniaandpersuadedMexicanauthoritiestogivehima
substantiallandgrant.SutterconvincedGovernorJuanBautistaAlvaradothathiscolony
intheinteriorofCaliforniawouldbeareliablebulwarkagainstforeignintrudersand
hostileIndians.TheyfearedthatwithcontinuedmigrationCaliforniamightseparate
fromMexicoasTexashaddonejustafewyearsearlier.Sutterreceivedover40,000
acresoflandandwasgiventhetitleofCommissionerofJusticeandRepresentativeof
theGovernmentontheFrontieroftheRiodelSacramento.
Sutterwasfinallyonthewaytoachievingsuccessasabusinessman.FromSutters
Forthebegantoengageinotheractivitiesandbeforelonghissettlement,namedNew
HelvetiaafterhisnativeSwitzerland(Helvetia),becameahavenforAmerican
emigrantsandaconcerntoMexicanauthorities.
WhentheBearFlagRevoltbrokeoutin1846,Sutterfirstmaintainedhisallegianceto
MexicobutwhenJohnC.FrmontarrivedatNewHelvetia,Suttercooperated,providing
FrmontwithabaseduringtheMexicanAmericanWar.
ThecommunitygrewevenmorerapidlyandSutterdecidedtoconstructanewsawmillto
meetthegrowingdemandforlumber.HehiredJamesWilsonMarshall,acarpenterand
mechanicfromNewJersey,in1847tooverseethebuildingofthemillonthesouthfork
oftheAmericanRivereastofSuttersFort.
OnthemorningofJanuary24,1848,whileinspectingprogressonthemill,Marshall
observedtinyparticlesglisteninginthewater.Marshallgatheredtheparticlesofgoldin
hisoldwhitehatandannounced,boysIbelieveIhavefoundagoldmine.The
adventurebegins!

Capt.Suttersaccountofthefirstdiscoveryofgold(transcriptionfromlettersheet
)

Iwassittingoneafternoon,saidthecaptain.Justaftermysiesta,...writingalettertoa
relationofmineatLucerne,whenIwasinterruptedbyMr.Marshall,agentlemanwithwhomI
hadfrequentbusinesstransactionsburstinghurriedlyintotheroom.Fromtheunusual
agitationinhismannerIimaginedthatsomethingserioushadoccurred,and,asweinvoluntarily
dointhispartoftheworld,Iatoncewenttoseeifmyriflewasinitsproperplace.Youshould
knowthatthemereappearanceofMr.MarshallatthatmomentintheFort,wasenoughto
surpriseme,ashehadbuttwodaysbeforelefttomakesomealterationsinamillforsawingpine
planks,whichhehadjustrunupforme,somemileshigheruptheriver.Whenhehadrecovered
himselfalittle,hetoldmethat,howevergreatmysurprisemightbeathisunexpected
reappearance,itwouldbemuchgreaterwhenIheardtheintelligencehehadcometobringme.
Intelligence,headded,whichifproperlyprofitedby,wouldputbothofusinpossessionof
unheardofwealth,millionsandmillionsofdollarsinfact....Hisfirstimpressionwas,thatthis
goldhadbeenlostorburiedthere,bysomeearlyIndiantribeperhapssomeofthosemysterious
inhabitantsofthewest,ofwhomwehavenoaccount,butwhodweltonthiscontinentcenturies
ago,andbuiltthosecitiesandtemples,theruinsofwhicharescatteredaboutthesesolitarywilds.
Onproceeding,however,toexaminetheneighboringsoil,hediscoveredthatitwasmoreorless
auriferous.Thisatoncedecidedhim.Hemountedhishorse,androdedowntomeasfastasit
wouldcarryhimwiththenews.

AttheconclusionofMr.Marshallsaccount,andwhenIhadconvincedmyself,fromthe
specimenshehadbroughtwithhim,thatitwasnotexaggerated,Ifeltasmuchexcitedas
himself.IeagerlyinquiredifhehadshowntheGoldtotheworkpeopleatthemillandwasglad
tohearthathehadnotspokentoasinglepersonaboutit.Weagreednottomentionthe
circumstancestoanyoneandarrangedtosetoffearlythenextdayforthemill.Onourarrival,
justbeforesundown,wepokedthesandaboutinvariousplaces,andbeforelongsucceededin
collectingbetweenusmorethananounceofgold,mixedupwithagooddealofsand.Istayedat
Mr.Marshallsthatnight,andthenextdayweproceededsomelittledistanceuptheSouthFork,
andfoundthatgoldexistedalongthewholecourse,notonlyinthebedofthemainstream,...
butineverylittledriedupcreekandravine.IndeedIthinkitwasmoreplentifulintheselatter
places,forImyself,withnothingmorethanasmallknife,pickedoutfromthedrygorge,alittle
wayupthemountain,asolidlumpofgoldwhichweighednearlyanounceandahalf.

Notwithstandingourprecautionsnottobeobserved,assoonaswecamebacktothemill,we
noticedbytheexcitementoftheworkingpeople,thatwehadbeendoggedabout,andto
completeourdisappointment,oneoftheIndianswhohadworkedatthegoldmineinthe
neighborhoodofLaPazcriedoutinshowingtoussomespecimenswhichhepickedupby
himself,Oro!OroOro!!!
6


QuestionstoConsider

1.HowdidMarshallbreakthenewsaboutfindinggold?

2.WhywasSuttersurprisedbyMarshallsappearance?

3.WhatwasMarshallsfirstimpressionwhenhefoundthegold?

4.WhydidSutterwanttokeepthediscoveryasecret?

5.DidtheNativeAmericansfindoutaboutthediscovery?How?

6.Whatevidencecanyoufindtosupportyourlastanswer?

7.HowmightNativeAmericansintheregionbeaffectedbythediscoveryofgold?

Day3
RoutestoCaliforniaInteractiveBook,AnalyzeDocs,HW:Mapoutpossibleroutes

GroupsofstudentswilltaketurnsgoingthroughtheInteractiveBook.Onenotetakerwill
documenttheirjourney,whichtheywillreporttotheclasslateron.
GroupsnotworkingwiththeIBwillbeanalyzingdocumentsaboutthemigrantstravels
Homework:Usingthehandouts,studentswillmapoutallthepossibleroutestoreachCA,they
willbeaskedtoselecttheroutetheybelieveisbest(takingcost,safety,andtimeintoaccount)

NOTEORDEROFARRIVALBYDIFFERENTGROUPS:
a.Californios,Indians,andlocalAnglos
b.Hawaiians(calledKanakas),Chinese,Sonorans(fromNorthernMexico),andChileansallof
whomhadheardthewordfromthoseaboardtradingvessels.
c.U.S.residentsfromthroughouttheeasternhalfofthecountry,spurredbyPresidentPolks
December2confirmationoftheexcitingrumors.
d.AustraliansandEuropeansBylate1849early1850,GoldRushdiariesandguideshadbeen
publishedinFrench,German,Russian,Swedish.

ThreeYearsinCaliforniabyWalterColton,1851
WalterColtonwasthe
alcalde
(mayor)ofMonterey....

Theexcitementproducedwasintenseandmanyweresoonbusyintheirhastypreparationsfora
departuretothemines.Thefamilywhohadkepthouseformecaughtthemovinginfection.
Husbandandwifewerebothpackinguptheblacksmithdroppedhishammer,thecarpenterhis
plane,themasonhistrowel,thefarmerhissickle,thebakerhisloaf,andthetapsterhisbottle.
Allwereoffforthemines,someonhorses,someoncarts,andsomeoncrutches,andonewent
inalitter.AnAmericanwoman,whohadrecentlyestablishedaboardinghouseherepulledup
stakes,andwasoffbeforeherlodgershadeventimetopaytheirbills.Debtorsran,ofcourse.I
haveonlyacommunityofwomenleft,andagangofprisoners,withhereandthereasoldier,
whowillgivehiscaptaintheslipatthefirstchance.Idontblamethefellowawhit,seven
dollarsamonth,whileothersaremakingtwoorthreehundredaday!thatistoomuchforhuman
naturetostand.

Overland:LetterfromSamuelNicholstoSarahA.Nichols,May6,1849

Iwasadvised...togivegeorgethirtygrainsofcalonellIdidsoandhethenvomitedagreat
portionofthemedicineupthegentelmenfromStLouishadthesemedicinsallpreparedbythere
familyphysicians&theyhadeveryconfidenceintherecolleramedicinswethenresortedto
theremedicinsandhedidnotvomitanymorebuthadthreefreedischargesdownwardshehad
veryseverecrampingthroughallpartsofhisbodyandparticularlyinarmshandsfingershis
Legs&feetandthoseStLouisfriendsinformedmethathewasoutofdanger.

[Despiteallhisfathersefforts,GeorgeNicholsdiedofcholera.]

Overland:DiaryofHarrietWard,June1,1853

Itissixweekstodaysinceweleftourdearonesathome,&notonewordhaveweheard....The
cloudsoflastevethreatenednotinvainforsoonafterweretiredthewindcommencedblowinga
perfectgale&theheavenswereoverspreadwithaconstantsheetofliquidfire&suchthunder
nooneeverheardexceptuponPlatteRiverwesoonfoundthatourunitedstrengthwouldfailto
holdourtentdown,&awayitwent,&wefeltlikenightwanderersindeed,thestormwasraging
withremorselessfury&thewateroverFatherremainedholdingontothedemolishedtent&we
ranasfastaspossibletothewagon,whichwefoundfasteneddown&itwaswithmuch
difficultywesucceededingettingin,butinthemeantimewewerestrippedofallsuperfluous
9

clothing,suchascloaks,shawls&c....allotherTentsinourencampmentwereblowndown
exceptMr.FoxsTheyounggentlemenwerelefthatless.

CentralAmerica:LetterfromMaryJaneMegquiertoMiltonBenjamin,May14,1849

MaryJaneMegquierwasaMainedoctorswifewhomadethreeroundtripstoCalifornia,where
sheatonepointranaboardinghouse.HerextensivelettersarepublishedinthebookApronFull
ofGold,whichgivesauniqueviewoftheGoldRushexperiencefromawomanspointofview.

...wewerestowedinacanoe...twentyfeetlongtwofeetwidewithallourluggagewhich
broughtthetopofthecanoeverynearthewatersedge.Weseatedourselvesonourcarpetbags
onthebottomoftheboat,ifweattemptedtoalterourpositionweweresuretogetwetfeet,
notwithstandingourclosequartersthescenerywassodelightfulthebankscoveredwiththemost
beautifulshrubberyandflowers,treesaslargeasourmaplecoveredwithflowersofeverycolour
andhue,birdsofalldescriptionsfilledtheairwithmusicwhilethemonkeysalligatorsandother
animalsvariedthescene,thatwewerenotconsciousoffatigue.Twonativespushedtheboat
withpolesunlessthewaterwastooswiftforthemtheywouldstepoutverydeliberatelyandpull
usalong...Thereareranchoseveryfewmileswhereyoucangetacupofmiserablemuddy
coffeewithhardbreadofwhichwemadedinner,thenwedoubledourselvesinassmallcompass
aspossibleandstarted,underabroilingsunthethermometeratonehundred...Ourpartthought
itbesttohavethenativescooktheirsupper,itwasrichtoseeuseatingsoupwithourfingers,as
knives,forks,spoonstables,chairsareamongthethingsunknown,theyhavenofloors,thepigs,
dogs,cats,ducks,hensareallaroundyourfeetreadytocatchthesmallestcrumbthatmay
chancetofall....WouldtoGodIcoulddescribethescene...thenativesgruntingasthey
pushedusalongthroughtherapidswasenoughtodriveonemadwithdelightwhenwegottired
sitting,wewouldjumpoutandwalk...wecouldneverseemorethantenrods,sometimeswe
wouldfindthatweweregoingnortheastwhenourpropercoursewasdirectlyopposite.Atfour
intheeveningwereachedGorgona,anothermiserabletown,whereyouwillfindtheFrench
NewYorkandCaliforniaHotels,butyoucannotgetdecentfood,norabedtolieuponateither
house....AfterspendingtwonightsandadayatGorgonaweresumedourjourneyforPanama
onthebacksofthemostmiserableapologiesforhorsefleshthatyoucouldconceiveoff,they
werecompletelyexhaustedcarryingheavyloadsoveroneoftheroughestroadsintheworld,
nothingbutapathwideenoughforthefeetofthemule,whichifheshouldmakeamistakeyou
wouldgotopartsunknown....OntopofoneofthosehighhillswefoundanephewofRev.Joy
dishingoutbeanscoffeeandpancakesinacomfortablewayastherewasnowayofgettingto
Cal.hethoughthewouldmakealittlemoneywherehewas.

10

CentralAmerica:LetterfromLutherFitchtohissisters,July12,1850

TheCrucesroad,asitiscalled,fromC.toPanama,wasonceagoodpavedroadwhich
carriagesmightpassover,andevennowthereisoccasionallyapieceofadozenrodswherethe
pavingisentire,butmostofthewaythestonesaretornup,andlyinginconfusionaboutwhich
ofcoursearenotsopleasanttowalkover,insomeplacesthepresentroadisdivertedfromthe
old,andtistherewefoundthemud,sometimessodeepthatwewouldfindsomedifficultyin
extricatingourselvesoccasionallywedidcomeoutminusboots....Ioccupiedmyselfin
examiningtheflowers,someofwhicharesplendid,throwingstonesatthemonkeysand
receivinginreturnlimes,oranges&cwhentheyhappenedtobeinthosetrees.Thesefruitswere
greenbuttastedwellinthewater,whichisnotgoodontheroad.Parrots&Parroquettsarevery
abundantthere

CapeHorn:LetterfromRobertWButterfieldtohismother,August23September5,1852

Thisdelayaddedtotherestofthetimewhichwemustnecessarilyspendinthisvicinitygetting
toandgoingfromitmadenearly4weeks,whichwassomethingmorethanwasreallyagreeable.
Imustnowtellyoualittlesomethingofthemannerinwhichwespentourtimeandhowwe
lived.Adayatthehorninthewinterisbut5hourslongorratherthereisonlysomanyhoursof
sun.The{missingword}wouldofcoursebealittlelonger.Thesunrisesalittleafternine
oclockinthemorningandsetsbefore4oclockintheafternoon.Tofindsomewayofspending
thedaylightwouldnotbesoverydifficult,buttoconjureupemploymentanddiversionforthe
16or17hoursofdarknesswasworkandperplexityenoughofitselfwithoutanythingelse.
Imagineyourselfsituatedinadullandunattractivebuildingofastormynightinthelastdaysof
November,withnofire,anddarknessjustmadevisiblebytheglimmeringhereandthereoflong
intervalsfromeachotherofdulllanterns,withtheangrywindshowlingaroundyou,makingthe
everyjoint,brace&timbercreak,squeak&cracklecausingthedoorstoslamandthewindows
torattleandyouhaveascenenotunliketheconditioninwhichthepassengersoftheSplendid
ANo.1Copperbottomed,ClipperShipNorthAmericanfoundthemselvesuponthenightsand
daysofthesetimesofwhichIamnowspeaking.

11

TeachingPointsforWorldMapandRoutestoCalifornia

OverlandRoutes:
TheCaliforniaTrail
1841BartlesonBidwellPartyfirsttocomplete
BrokeoffoftheOregonTrailovercametwobiggestobstacles:SaltLakeDesertandthe
SierraNevadaMountainRange
StartedinIndependence,MissouriandendedinSacramento,California
2,000miles
Mostlywalking15milesadayhadtoleaveinthelateSpringtobeattheweather
(snow)andhavefoodfortheanimalsitwasa5monthtrip
Costabout$1,000
FearofattackfromIndiansrarelyhappened
Diseases:cholera,mountainfever,pneumonia,anddiphtheria
In1857wagonstook24days
By1869therailroadtook7daysfromNewYorkCitytoSanFranciscoCoastto
Coast
Cost$136FirstClass,$110Coach,$65ThirdClass
OldSpanishTrail
FromSantaFeNewMexicotoLosAngeles,California
1200milepackmuletriplongandarduous

Routesbywater:
PanamaRoute
FromNewYorkCity,throughPanamatoSanFrancisco
PanamaCanalopenedin1941,cutthetripdownto7,000miles
CrosstheChagrasRiver34days
Dangerousjourneythroughthejungle50miletrail
Diseases:malaria,yellowfever,andcholera
CapeHornRoute
FromNewYorkCity,aroundCapeHorntoSanFrancisco
15,000miles
Upto8monthtrip
$100$1,000dollarcost
Diseases:scurvy,cholera
Stillthesafestwaytothegoldfields
1849777shipsleftfromAtlanticportstosailtoSanFrancisco.Oneofthelargest
migrationsinmodernhistory
12

FromChina
FromHongKong,ChinasailingEastacrossthePacificOceantoSanFrancisco
About50days
FromIreland
SailingWestacrosstheAtlanticOceanthroughCanadatoChicago,Boston,andNew
YorkCity
3,000miles
4070days
FromGermany
SailingWestacrosstheAtlanticOceantoNewYorkCity

Questions:
1) Whichoftherouteswouldyoutake?

2) Why?Analyzecost,time,andsafety.

13

14

Day4
PerspectivesHuntington(Pg.50),ConceptLadder,ExpertGroupstofilloutMindMap

DoNow(injournals):WhichroutewouldyouhavetakentoreachCalifornia?
HavegroupspresenttheirjourneyfromtheIB
Brieflecture/introductiontothediversityofCA
ConceptLadder
Countstudentsoff15,eachgroupwillbeassignedadifferentethnicgroup,theywillreadabout
thegroupsexperiences,discuss,andfilloutthemindmap

15

BACKGROUNDINFORMATION

ThedecadethatencompassedtheGoldRushandtheearlyyearsofCaliforniastatehood,
184858,isarguablythemostimportanterainthestateshistory,andoneofthemost
compellingperiodsforstudyinthenationshistory.Inameretenyears,Californiawas
transformedfromasparselysettledMexicanfrontierterritorymadeupofahandfulofseaport
towns,dozensofscatteredNativeAmericantribes,andsmallfarmsandlargeranchos,intothe
primedestinationforadventurous,goldseekingpeoplefromallovertheglobe.Beforethedust
evenbegantosettle,CaliforniahadjoinedtheUnion,hundredsofthousandsofemigrantshad
arrived,goldworthmillionsofdollarswasfound,andtheworkofestablishingthesocial,
economic,andpoliticalfoundationofthenewestoftheUnitedStateswasunderway.
TheremarkableethnicandracialdiversitythatexistsinCaliforniatodaywasforgedin
thisfoundingdecade.NativeAmericaninhabitantsofCaliforniaandtheresidentCaliforniosbe
theyofLatinorAngloAmericanstock(oramixturethereof)couldnothaveanticipatedthe
demographicwavethatbrokeupontheregion.AllmannerofAmericansbothwhiteandblack,
andmostlymalearrivedindroves,asdidEuropeans,Mexicans,Chileans,Peruvians,and
Asians(principallyChinese),amongothers.Thefreneticscenesofoverlandandoverseastravel,
goldminingandtownbuilding,andhardworkandhardplayweremadeevenmoreremarkable
bypouringracialandethnicdiversityintothemix.Thenatureofthisschizoidheritageof
Californiasociety,asthehistorianLeonardPittcalledit,isthebasisofthesesquicentennial
lessonthatfollows.

16

ConceptLadder

17

18

ProcessGrid

Group

Language

Travel

Vocation/
Contributions

Challenges

Other
Interesting
Info

19

EXPERTGROUP1:IRISH

IrishimmigrantsspokeGaelicandEnglishwithastrongIrishbrogue.Theycamefrom

theBritishIsles,whichistodaymadeupofEngland,Scotland,Wales,andIreland.Theycameto
escapefamineontheirisland.In1846,ablightofthepotatocropleftIrishfarmlandcovered
withblackrot.PoorIrishfarmersdidnothavecropstoselltopaytheirrent,familieswere
evictedandforcedtoliveinovercrowdedplaces.Theywereeatingrottenproduce,gettingsick,
anddyingwithcholeraandtyphus.Approximatelyonemillionpeoplediedandonemillion
peoplefledtheircountry.

TheIrishtraveledeastbyshipacrossthePacificOcean.TheylandedfirstinCanada,

becauseitwasacheaperroute.TheythentraveledtoAmericancitiessuchasChicago,Boston,
andNewYork.TogettoCaliforniacitiessuchasSanFrancisco,theyhadtomakeanothertrip.
Theycouldchosetogooverlandorsailagain.ThecheapestsailingroutewasaroundCapeHorn,
whichwouldtakeuptoeightmonthsforthemtoarriveinSanFrancisco.Uponarrival,theIrish
wouldusuallysettleinanIrishquarter.Theychosetoliveinlargegroupsbecausetheywere
thepoorestofalltheimmigrants.Theyalsowantedtorecreatethecloseknitcommunitiesthey
hadcherishedbackinIreland.
IrishimmigrantsmadenumerouscontributionstoCalifornia.TheIrishorganizedthefirst
tradeunionsandconductedstrikeswhennecessaryforhigherwages,shorterhours,andsafer
workingconditions.HardworkingIrishlaborersbeganatentrylevelranksandwerepromotedto
bosspositionsasmorecommonlaborersarrivedfromsouthernandEasternEurope.
SomechallengestheIrishencounteredwereunsanitaryconditionsbecauseof
overcrowdedlivingconditions,whichwerebreedinggroundsfordisease.Therewereonlya
limitednumberofunskilledjobsavailable,sointenserivalryquicklydevelopedbetweenthe
Irishandotherworkingclasspeople.Asaresult,NoIrishNeedApplysignswerepostedin
shopwindows,factorygates,andworkshopdoorsthroughoutthecities.

20

EXPERTGROUP2:
MEXICAN

TheAmericanstookCaliforniaawayfromMexicowiththeMexicanAmericanWar

st
(18461848)andtheTreatyofGuadalupeHildago.Californiaofficiallybecamethe31
stateto

jointheUniononSeptember9,1850.ThevastmajorityofMexicanschosetostayandbecome
fullU.S.citizens.Theysupportedthenewgovernmentbecauseitofferedthemprotectionfrom
theIndianraidsthatMexicohadnotprevented,anditpromisedmuchgreaterprosperity.
MexicanAmericansmayberecentimmigrantsorthesonsanddaughtersofimmigrants.They
canbebilingualormonolingual(ormultilingual),theirprimarylanguagesareSpanishand
English.
MexicansdidnothavetotravelfartocometoAmericabecausetheU.S.sharesaborder
withMexico.Theytravelednorthbyfoot,orbycoach.TheysettledinareasalloverCalifornia,
workinginmining,ontherailroadandintheagricultureindustry.Californios,Spanishspeaking
peoplewhocamefromMexicoandsettledinCalifornia,ownedandoperatedlargeranchossince
1769.Mostoftheseranchersraisedandsoldcattle.Somemadewineandgrewcitrusfruits.
CalifornioinfluencecanbeseeninallaspectsofCaliforniaculture,fromitsarchitecture,music,
andcitynamestoitsfoodandart.
WhenCaliforniabecameastate,disputesoflandownershiparose.Inorderforthe
familieswhoownedlandtokeepit,theyhadtoshowvalidproofoftheirlandholdings,aswell
asmapsanddocumentation.ManyMexicanfamiliescouldnotshowtheirproofofownership
sincetheSpanishandMexicansparceledoutlandfreely.Thesefamilieslosttheirlandholdings
andtheywerereturnedtothegovernmentthensoldataverycheappricetootherranchersand
farmersasaresultoftheLandlawof1851.Mexicanlandownersalsolosttheirlandtosquatters.
Manysquatterswerefrustratedgoldminerswhoseizedthelandviolently,killingcattle,burning
crops,andchasingCaliforniosoutoftheirhomes.

21

EXPERTGROUP3:GERMAN

GermanyisaWesternEuropeancountrywhereGermanisspoken.ThefailedGerman

revolutionin1848causedemigration.Duringthenexttenyearsoveramillionpeopleleft
GermanyandsettledintheUnitedStates.Someweretheleadersofthisrevolution,butmost
wereimpoverishedGermanswhohadlostconfidenceintheirgovernment.ManyGermanmenof
thistimeperiodwerebeingforcedintothemilitary.Immigrationwasoneoftheonlywaysto
escapethisfate.ThedesiretoimprovetheirstandardoflivingbeganforGermansastheylearned
ofvastopportunitiesavailablethroughhardworkinAmerica.
ThenumberofGermanimmigrantsincreasedinthe1880swiththerealestateboomin
SouthernCalifornia.GermanssailedwestoverthePacificOceantoNewYorkCity.Oneofthe
waystogettoCaliforniafromtheeastcoastwasbythePanamaCanalRoute.FromNewYork
City,immigrantssailedtoPanamaandfirsthadtocrosstheChagrasRiverbeforetakingthe
50milejourneythroughthejungle.Then,theywouldsailtherestofthewaytoSanFrancisco.
In1856,MargarethaSchurz,aGermanimmigrant,createdthefirstkindergartenin
America.OtherGermanimmigrantstookjobsasbakers,brewers,carpenters,farmers,printers,
watchmakers,millers,gunsmiths,landsurveyors,andtailors.
HeavyGermanimmigrationtotheUnitedStatesoccurredin1848intheformofpolitical
refugeesknownastheFortyEighters.Duetotherevolutionintheircountry,Germanimmigrants
cametoAmericatosavetheirlivesandwithhopesofmakingcontributionstotheAmerican
government.TheFortyEighterstriedtojumpintoAmericanpoliticswithoutrespecting
Americantraditions.Thiscausedincreasedhostilitytowardstheimmigrants.

22

EXPERTGROUP4:NATIVEAMERICAN

TheCaliforniaNativeAmericanshadnoknownwrittenlanguagebeforetheintroduction
ofEuropeanculture.Manyoftheirgroupswerewipedoutsoquicklythattherewasnochance
forarecordtobemadeoftheirexperience.Theyspokemanydifferentlanguagesandlivedin
tribesalloverCalifornia.
Foryears,politicianshadbeencallingforNativeAmericanstoberemovedentirelyfrom
routestotheWest.Sometribeshadalreadybeenforcedtomoveontoreservations.The
reservationswerefarfromthetribesusualhuntinggrounds.NativeAmericanswerehunters,
farmers,fishermen,gatherers,trackers,andinterpreters.Theycontributedtofarmingby
developingirrigationsystems.
TheNativeAmericanswereangryatthewaytheyweretreated.TheyhatedtheIron
Horse,snortingandwhistling,therailroadscaredawaywildanimals.Thewhitemans
settlementsfollowedtherailroad.NativeAmericanshadalwaysdependedonwideopenspaces
forhunting.Theirwayoflifewasbeingdestroyed.CentralPacificrailroadofficialsmetwiththe
tribalchiefs.Theyofferedthemfreepassageontherailroad.Thechiefscouldrideinthe
passengercars,otherNativeAmericanscouldrideforfreeinthefreightcars.TheCentralPacific
railroadalsohiredNativeAmericanstoworkonthetracks.Thewomenturnedouttobegoodat
usingcrowbarsandsledgehammers.
Duringtheperiodbetween1850to1900,90%oftheCaliforniaIndianpopulation
perishedfromdisease,starvation,orgunshotwound.Noothergroupfacedmoreprejudiceand
discriminationthanCaliforniasindigenouspeople.

23

EXPERTGROUP5:CHINESE

ChineseimmigrantsfirstarrivedinCaliforniainthelate1500swhenCaliforniawasstill
underSpanishcolonialrule.Theyestablishedthemselvesasfishermen,sailors,andmerchants
onSpanishgalleonsthatsailedacrossthePacificbetweenthePhilippinesandMexicanports.
Fromthelate1500stothe1800s,ChinesecontactwithCaliforniafluctuatedbasedonthe
politicalandeconomicsituationsinChina.
Chineseimmigrationincreaseddramaticallyafter1848.Muchlikeothergroups,many
weremadethetriptobeinvolvedintheGoldRush.ManyChinesearrivedspeakingavarietyof
languagessuchasCantoneseandMandarin.NewcomersarrivinginAmericaexperiencedmany
cultureshocksinanewstrangecountry.TheChineseimmigrantsneitherspokenorunderstood
Englishandwerenotfamiliarwithwesterncultureandlife.ManyChinesecamefromrural
farmingcommunitiesinChinaandfounditdifficulttoadjusttoandfindingtheirwayaroundbig
townslikeSanFrancisco.
TheChinesewereinstrumentalinhelpingcompletetheFirstTranscontinentalRailroad
connectingtheEasternUnitedStateswithCalifornia.Chineseworkersdidmostofthe
backbreakinganddangerouslaborbutwerepaida1/3ofwhatawhiteworkerwouldhavemade.
ChinesealsoimpactedagricultureonCalifornia.Althoughtheywerepreventedfromowing
land,asexperiencedfarmers,theybroughtvitalexpertisethattheCaliforniafruit,vegetable,and
wineindustriesowetothemtothisveryday.
Chineseexperiencedmanyformsofracism,discrimination,violence,andstereotyping
againstthemasapeoplethroughout18501900.Throughouttheadversities,Chinesefoughtfor
theirrightsandfortheirdignityasapeopleandplayedaveryimportantroleinthehistoryof
California.

24

Day5
Statistics
Studentswillworkonvisualrepresentationsofthegoldrushingroups

25

StatisticalSummaryExercise
CaliforniaPopulation
NativeAmericans
1769300,000
1821200,000
1848150,000
186030,000

NonNativeAmericans
18213,500
184814,000
1849100,000
1852225,000

Chinese

1848100
1849100
185225,000

1.WhatwerethetrendsinNativeAmericanpopulationgrowth/declineinthedecadesleadingup
totheGoldRush?TowhatextentdidtheGoldRushaffectthesetrends?Createalinegraphto
helpassesstheprecipitousdeclineoftheNativeAmericanpopulation,184860.

2.InordertoappreciatetherapidgrowthofthenonNativeAmericanpopulationinthefirstfew
yearsoftheGoldRush,createabargraphusingthestatisticsabove.

3.CreateapiecharttoshowthepercentageofChinesepeopleinthenonNativeAmerican
populationintheyear1852.Howsignificantisthisstatistic?Why?

26


GoldMiningandProduction
Year
1848
1849
1850

Workers
4,000
40,000
100,000

Production
$250,000
$10,000,000
$40,000,000

1.Createalinegraphorbarcharttoillustratethegrowthinthenumberofminers184850.On
anothergraph,havethemplottheincreaseinproductionof(orsuccessinfinding)gold.

2.Comparethetwographsthathavebeencreated,orcombinethedataintoonegraph.Whatis
therelationshipbetweenthetwosetsofdata?Didthefiguresriseataproportionalrate?What
doesthisresultsuggest?

3.Calculatetheamountofdollarsingoldfoundbyanaverageminerin1848,in1849,andin
1850,andplotthisinformationinagraphorchart.Howdoesoneaccountforthedifferent
productionaveragesineachyear?

27

Day6
IntroduceFinalProject,BigBook:VoicesofCalifornia,PoemWriting

Theletter/interviewrubricswillbeexplained
StudentswilllookthroughtheBigBook

http://www.flipsnack.com/MCLAOMAR/voicesofcaliforniabigbook.html

BasedonthepoemsintheBigBook,studentswillwriteapoemaboutsomeonetheyknowwho
hasimmigrated.Ifstudentdoesnotknoworisnotcomfortablesharingaboutsomeones
experiencetheycanwriteaboutafictionalperson.

28

POEMFORMATandTEMPLATEfortheCalifornianPoem

Line1:Pickanethnicgroup
Line2:Selectatown/cityandcountryfromwheretheyarefrom
Line3:Listthelanguagesthattheyspoke
Line4:Describesomethingtheyarelearningtodointheirnewcountry
Line5:ExplaininwhatmannerthepersontraveledtotheUnitedStates
Line6:ExplainhowthepersoncametoCalifornia
Line7:ExplainwhatvocationthepersondidinCalifornia
Line8:ExplainwhytheycametoCalifornia
Line9:Explainwhatchallengestheyfaced
Line10:Addanyinterestingbitofinformation

(skipalineandendwiththefourlinesbelow.)

Iimmigrated.
Iworked.
Isettled.
IamaCalifornian.

Example:
IamMexican.
IamfromSonora,Mexico.
IspeakSpanish.
Iamlearninghowtoplasterwalls.
IcrossedtheborderbetweenMexicoandAmericaonfoot.
Ihelpedbeautifyhomesandbuildingsasaplastererwithstucco.
IcametoCaliforniaseekinganewlifeandbetterjobopportunities.
IhavefoundlearningEnglishdifficult.
IeventuallytaughtmyselftoreadandspeakEnglishbyreadingthenewspaperdaily.

Iimmigrated.
Iworked.
Isettled.
IamaCalifornian.

29

Day7
PerspectivesJigsawandfilloutProcessChart,GraphicNovelpanelsfromYOURperspective

Studentswillbesortedintogroupssothatthereare12peoplefromeachExpertGroup
Eachstudentwillserveasanexperttosharetheexperiencesofeachethnicgrouptotherestof
theirbreakoutgroup.Studentswhoarenotsharingwillbefillingouttheprocesschartsothey
knowabouteveryonesexperiences

ThegraphicnovelfromDay2willbeondisplay.Studentswillhavetocreateoneormorepanels
basedonapersonfromtheirexpertgroupsperspective.Theycaneithercreateitfromthe
perspectiveof,ordocumentingthelifeof,thatperson.Studentscanworkingroupsof23if
necessary.Pointswillbeawardedasfollows:

30

GraphicNovelPanel

UsingwhatyouhavelearnedabouttheexperiencesofimmigrantsintheGoldRush,youwill
createapanelforagraphicnovel.Youmaywritefromtheperspectiveof,orportraythelifeof,a
personfromanygroup(German,Mexican,NativeAmerican,American,Chinese,Irish,etc.).
Youmayworkingroupsof
nomorethan
3.Thepanelwillbeworth10points.

Instructions
Createonepageforagraphicnovel.Thepagemustbeonepanelofanovel,butmay
includemoreifnecessary.
Writeacaption(ormultiplecaptions)explainingwhatyourpersonisthinking,saying,
doing,orseeing.Inthesecaptions,youmust
properly
useavocabularyword.Writeat
least4sentences/phrases.
Thoughyouwillnotbegradedonhowgoodyourdrawingis,besuretopayattentionto
details.Becreativeandaddcolor!

Caption(5points)
0
Nocaptionpresentorcaption
isunrelatedtothedrawing(that
is,itmustberelatedto
immigrationandthegoldrush).
Therearemanygrammar,
syntax,orspellingerrorsthat
obscuremeaning.No
vocabularywordsfromtheunit
areused.

3
Thecaptionislooselyrelated
tothedrawing(thatis,itmust
berelatedtoimmigrationand
thegoldrush).Therearesome
grammar,syntax,orspelling
errors,butmeaningisstill
clear.Novocabularywords
fromtheunitareused,orthey
areusedincorrectly.

5
Thecaptionisclearin
depicting/explainingwhatis
happeninginthedrawing(that
is,itmustberelatedto
immigrationandthegoldrush).
Grammar,syntax,andspelling
errorsarefew,orabsent.At
leastonevocabularywordis
usedcorrectly.

3
Thedrawingisrudimentary
andonlypartiallydepictsthe
personsexperience.The
setting(timeperiod,location,
dress,historicaldata)is
partiallyincorrect.

5
Thedrawingdepictsatrue
representationofthepersons
experience.Thesetting(time
period,location,dress,
historicaldata)iscorrect.
Creativityandattentionto
detailsareevident.

Drawing(5points)
0
Thedrawingisincompleteor
notrelatedtothegoldrush
immigrants'experience.Little
evidenceofcreativityand
effort.

31

Day8
WomeninCaliforniaStatistics,ReadingsandQuestions

Showstatisticsaboutwomeninthegoldrushandprovidebriefintro
Havestudentsreadandanswerquestions

CaliforniaPopulation
Year

Population

Male

Female

1840

8,000

4,000

4,000

1850

120,000

110,000

10,000

1852

200,000

180,000

20,000

1860

380,000

273,000

107,000

32

WomenoftheCaliforniaGoldRush
Miner
"WesawlastApril,aFrenchwoman,standinginAngel'sCreek,dippingandpouringwaterinto
thewasher,whichherhusbandwasrocking.Sheworeshortboots,whiteduckpantaloons,ared
flannelshirt,withablackleatherbeltandaPanamahat.Dayafterdayshecouldbeseenworking
quietlyandsteadily,performinghershareofthegolddigginglabor."
SanFranciscoDailyAlta
LouiseClappetriedherhandatdigginggoldtoo:
Ihavebecomeamineressthatis,ifthehavingwashedapanofdirtwithmyownhands,and
procuredtherefromthreedollarsandtwentyfivecentsingolddustwillentitlemetothename.
Icantrulysay,withtheblacksmithsapprenticeatthecloseofhisfirstdaysworkattheanvil,I
amsorryIlearnedthetradeforIwetmyfeet,toremydress,spoiltapairofnewgloves,nearly
frozemyfingers,gotanawfulheadache,tookcoldandlostavaluablebreastpin,inthismylabor
oflove.

PieMaker
"IconcludedtomakesomepiesandseeifIcouldsellthemtotheminersfortheirlunches,as
therewereaboutonehundredmenonthecreek,doingtheirowncookingtherewereplentyof
driedapplesanddriedpealedpeachesfromChili,pressedintheshapeofacheese,tobehad,soI
boughtfatsaltporkandmadelard,andmyventurewasasuccess.Isoldfruitpiesforonedollar
andaquarterapiece,andmincepiesforonedollarandfiftycents.Isometimesmadeandsold,a
hundredinaday,andnotevenastovetobakethemin,buthadtwosmalldutchovens."....
MaryJaneCaples
Onewomanboasted:
Ihavemadeabout$18,000worthofpiesaboutonethirdofthishasbeenclearprofit.One
yearIdraggedmyownwoodoffthemountainandchoppedit,andIhaveneverhadsomuchas
achildtotakeastepformeinthiscountry.$11,000Ibakedinonelittleironskillet,a
considerableportionbyacampfire,withouttheshelterofatreefromthebroilingsun.

33

Anotherwomanwrote,fromSanFrancisco:
Asmartwomancandoverywellinthiscountrytrue,therearenotmanycomfortsandone
mustworkallthetimeandworkhard,butthereisplentytodoandgoodpay.IfIwasinBoston
nowandknowwhatInowknowofCaliforniaIwouldcomeouthereifIhadtohirethemoney
tobringmeout.ItistheonlycountryIeverwasinwhereawomanreceivedanythinglikeajust
compensationforwork.

HotelKeeper
Runningaboardinghousewasthecommonestmoneymakerforwomen.Onewomanearned
$189aweekafteronlythreeweeksofkeepingboardersinthemines.Shesharedwithher
boardersaccommodationsdecidedlyminimal,asshewroteherchildrenbackEast:

Wehaveonesmallroomabout14feetsquare,andalittlebackroomweuseforastoreroom
aboutaslargeasapieceofchalk.Thenwehaveanopenchamberdividedoffbyacloth.The
gentlemenoccupyoneend,Mrs.Handdaughter,yourfatherandmyself,theother.Wehavea
curtainhungbetweenourbedsbutwedonottakepainstodrawit,asitisofnousetobe
particularhere.LuzenaWilsonsetherselfupintheboardinghousebusiness,too.Despiteits
rusticbeginnings,shehadgrandplansforherNevadaCityenterprise,whichsheelevatedwith
thetitlehotel:"Ideterminedtosetuparivalhotel.SoIboughttwoboardsfromapreciouspile
belongingtoamanwhowasbuildingthesecondwoodenhouseintown.WithmyownhandsI
choppedstakes,drovethemintotheground,andsetupmytable.Iboughtprovisionsata
neighboringstore,andwhenmyhusbandcamebackatnighthefound,midtheweirdlightofthe
pinetorches,twentyminerseatingatmytable.Eachmanasheroseputadollarinmyhandand
saidImightcounthimasapermanentcustomer.Icalledmyhotel'ElDorado.'"Fromthefirst
dayitwaswellpatronized,andIshortlyaftertookmyhusbandintopartnership.".......
LuzenaStanleyWilson

Butrunningaboardinghousewashardwork,asMaryJaneMegquierattestedfromSan
Francisco:

IshouldliketogiveyouanaccountofmyworkifIcoulddoitjustice.Igetupandmakethe
coffee,thenImakethebiscuit,thenIfrythepotatoesandbroil3poundsofsteak,andasmuch
34

liver,whilethehiredwomanissweepingandsettingthetable.At8thebellringsandtheyare
eatinguntilnine.IdonotsituntiltheyarenearlyalldoneafterbreakfastIbake6loavesof
bread(notverybig)then4piesorapudding,thenwehavelamb,forwhichwehavepaid$9a
quarter,beef,pork,bakedturnips,beets,potatoes,radishes,salad,andthateverlastingsoup,
everyday,dineat2,forteawehavehash,coldmeat,breadandbutter,sauceandsomekindof
cakeandIhavecookedeverymouthfulthathasbeeneatenexceptingonedaywhenwewereon
asteamboatexcursion.Imake6bedseverydayanddothewashingandironingandyoumust
thinkIamverybusyandwhenIdanceallnightIamobligedtotrotalldayandifIhadnotthe
constitutionof6horsesIshouldhavebeendeadlongagobutIamgoingtogiveupinthefall,as
Iamsickandtiredofwork.InfullagreementwasMaryBallou,whokeptaboardinghousein
themines.Hercomplaintsincludedtheadditionalinconvenienceofunwelcomeanimals.
Anythingcanwalkintothekitchenandthenfromthekitchenintothediningroomsoyousee
thehogsandmulescanwalkinanytime,dayornight,iftheychoosetodoso.SometimesIam
upalltimesanightscaringthehogsandmulesoutofthehouse.Imadeablueberrypudding
todayfordinner.SometimesIammakingsoupsandcranberrytartsandbakingchickenthatcost
$4aheadandcookingeggsat$3adozen.Sometimesboilingcabbageandturnipsandfrying
frittersandbroilingsteakandcookingcodfishandpotatoes.SometimesIamtakingcareof
babiesandnursingattherateof$50aweekbutIwouldnotadviseanyLadytocomeouthere
andsufferthetoilandfatiguethatIhavesufferedforthesakeofalittlegold.

Gamblers
"Inonecorner,acoarselookingfemalemightpresideoveraroulettetable,and,perhaps,inthe
centralandcrowdedpartoftheroomaSpanishorMexicanwomanwouldbesittingatmonte,
withacigaritainherlips,whichshereplacedeveryfewmomentsbyafreshone.Inaveryfew
fortunatehouses,neat,delicate,andsometimesbeautifulFrenchwomenwereeveryeveningto
beseenintheorchestra.Thesehouses,tothehonorofthecoarsecrowdbeitsaid,werealways
filled."......
ElizaW.Farnham

35

Muleteer
"SheisgenuineCastilian,ownsatrainofmulesandbuysandloadsthem.Weboughttheflour
shesenttoWeaverville.Ihadastrongideaofofferingmyself...butAngelitatoldmeshehada
husbandsomewhereintheminesandshehasaboyaboutfiveyearsold.SoIdidn'taskher.".......

FranklinBuck
Speculator
"Ihavebeforespokenofher....Herhusbandwouldgivehernomoneytospeculatewith,soshe
soldsomepiecesofjewelry,whichshedidn'tvalueparticularly,&whichcostherabouttwenty
dollarsathome,withthisjewelryshepurchasedonionswhichshesoldonarrivingherefor
eighteenhundreddollars,quiteahandsomesum,wasitnot?...Shealsobroughtsomequinces&
madequiteanicelittleprofitonthem.".......
JohnMcCrackan
Victim
"Asshebegantomakeconsiderablemoneythebigger,ifnotbetter,halfofthiscouplebeganto
feelquiterichandwentoffonadrunk,andwhenhisownmoneywasspenthewenttohiswife
formore,butsherefusedhim,andhe,inhisdrunkenrage,pickedupagunnearbyandshother
dead."
WilliamManley

Washerwoman
"Magnificentwomanthat,sir,"hesaid,addressingmyhusband"awifeoftherightsort,sheis.
Why,"headded,absolutelyrisingintoeloquenceashespoke,"sheearntheroldman,"(said
individualtwentyoneyearsofage,perhaps)"ninehundreddollarsinnineweeks,clearofall
expenses,bywashing!Suchwomenain'tcommon,Itellyouiftheywere,amanmightmarry
andmakemoneybytheoperation."......

LouisaClapp

36

Onewomandeterminedtogethergoldtheoldfashionedway,bymarryingit.Sheplacedwhat
musthavebeenthefirstpersonalsadinaCalifornianewspaper,undertheheading:

AHusbandWanted...Byaladywhocanwash,cook,scour,sew,milk,spin,weave,hoe(cant
plow),cutwood,makefires,feedthepigs,raisechickens,rockthecradle,(goldrocker,Ithank
you,Sir!),sawaplank,drivenails,etc.Theseareafewofthesolidbranchesnowforthe
ornamental.longtimeagoshewentasfarassyntax,readMurraysGeographyandthrough
tworulesinPikesGrammar.Couldfind6statesontheatlas.Couldread,andyoucanseethat
shecanwrite.Canno,couldpaintroses,butterflies,ships,etc.Couldoncedancecanridea
horse,donkeyoroxenOh,Ihearyouask,couldshescold?No,shecantyou
_____________goodfornothing_________!Nowforherterms.Herageisnoneofyour
business.Sheisneitherhandsomenorafright,yetanoldmanneednotapply,noranywhohave
notalittlemoreeducationthanshehas,andagreatdealmoregold,fortheremustbe$20,000
settledonherbeforeshewillbindherselftoperformalltheabove.AddresstoDorothyScraggs,
withrealname.P.O.Marysville.

DameShirley(MRS.LOUISEAMELIAKNAPPSMITHCLAPPE)
describesoneofher
firstexperiencesintheminingtownofRichBar,CAandwiththemenwhoinhabitedit:

ThroughthemiddleofRichBarrunsthestreet,thicklyplantedwithaboutfortytenements,
amongwhichfigureroundtents,squaretents,plankhovels,logcabins,etc.,theresidences
varyingineleganceandconveniencefromthepalatialsplendorof"TheEmpire"downtoa
"localhabitation"formedofpineboughsandcoveredwitholdcalicoshirts.TodayIvisitedthe
"office,"theonlyoneontheriver.Ihadheardsomuchaboutitfromothers,aswellasfromF.,
thatIreallydidexpectsomethingextra.WhenIenteredthisimposingplacetheshocktomy
opticnerveswassogreatthatIsankhelplesslyupononeofthebenches,whichran,divanlike,
thewholelength(tenfeet!)ofthebuilding,andlaughedtillIcried.Therewas,ofcourse,no
floor.Arudenondescript,inonecorner,onwhichwasrangedthemedicallibrary,consistingof
halfadozenvolumes,diddutyasatable.Theshelves,whichlookedlikestickssnatchedhastily
fromthewoodpile,andnailedupwithouttheleastalteration,containedquitearespectablearray
ofmedicines.Thewhitecanvaswindowstaredeverybodyintheface,withtheinteresting
informationpaintedonit,inperfectgrenadiersofcapitals,thatthiswasDr.'soffice.Atmy
37

loudlaugh(which,itmustbeconfessed,wasnoisyenoughtogivethewholestreetassuranceof
thepresenceofawoman)F.lookedshocked,andhispartnerlookedprussicacid.Tohim(the
partner,Imeanhehadn'tbeenoutoftheminesforyears)the"office"wasathingsacred,andset
apartforanalmostadmiringworship.Itwasabeautifularchitecturalidealembodiedinpine
shinglesandcottoncloth.Hereheliterally"lived,andmoved,andhadhisbeing,"hisbedandhis
board.Withanadmirationofthefineartstrulypraiseworthy,hehadfondlydecoratedthewalls
thereofwithsundrypicturesfromGodey's,Graham's,andSartain'smagazines,amongwhich,
fashionplateswithimaginarymonsterssportingmiraculouswaists,impossiblewrists,and
fabulousfeet,largelypredominated.DuringmycallattheofficeIwasintroducedtooneofthe
findersofRichBar,ayoungGeorgian,whoafterwardsgavemeafulldescriptionofallthe
factsconnectedwithitsdiscovery.Thisunfortunatehadnotspokentoawomanfortwoyears,
and,intheelationofhisheartatthejoyfulevent,herushedoutandinvestedcapitalinsome
excellentchampagne,whichI,onWillie'sprincipleof"doinginTurkeyastheTurkeysdo,"
assistedthecompanyindrinking,tothehonorofmyownarrival.Imentionthisasaninstance
thatnothingcanbedoneinCaliforniawithoutthesanctifyinginfluenceofthespirit,andit
generallyappearsinamuchmore"questionableshape"thanthatofsparklingwine.

Questions(Explainindepthwithcompletesentences)
1.WhatopportunitieswerethereforwomenwhomigratedtoCaliforniaduringtheGoldRush?

2.WhathardshipsdidthesewomenwhowenttoCaliforniaface?

3.Howdidmaleminersrespondtothewomenintheminingtowns?

38

FamiliesintheGoldRush

AtfirstglancewethinkoftheCaliforniaGoldRushasaregionalevent,andasanevent
predominantlyinvolvingmen.However,thediscoveryofgoldhadaprofoundeffectonthelives
ofmen,women,andchildrenthroughoutthenationandaroundtheworld.Forthosewho
journeyedtoCalifornia,theirdecisiontoleavetheirfamiliesforprolongedperiodsoftimeraised
fundamentalquestionsabouttheirmaritalandfamilyobligations,andabouthowthose
relationshipsmightbehurtbytheirabsence.Forthosewhoremainedbehindtorunfarms,shops,
andsmallfactories,theimpactoftheGoldRushwasjustasprofound:howwouldtheycopewith
fewerhandstohelpathome.Infact,theabsenceofthousandsofmenoverlongperiodsoftime
wouldcreatehardshipssimilartothoseenduredhistoricallywhenmenwenttowar.
InmakingthedecisiontoseektheirfortuneinCalifornia,men(andsomewomen)
weighedtheseinevitablehardshipsagainstthedreamthattheywouldstrikeitrichinashort
periodoftime.Duringtheirabsencetheyhopedtoimprovetheirfamilyssocialstatusonceand
forall,andtoalteranoftendrearyexistencecharacterizedbyrepetitivetoilandmountingdebts.
Perhapsnewfoundwealth,andthehopeofbeginninganewlife,wouldcompensateforthe
temporaryhardshipsimposedontheirfamilies.Menwhowereearning$1perdayasfarm
laborersandmechanicsathomehopedtoearn$16perdaylaboringinthegoldfields,evenif
theydidntstrikegoldthemselves.Womencouldearnevenmoreprovidingservicessuchas
cooking,cleaning,bakingpies,andrunningboardinghouses.
Duringthewinterof18481849,inthousandsofhomesallovertheUnitedStates,these
sameprosandconswereweighedbyallfamilymembers.Moreoftenthannotanxiouswives,
siblings,parentsandacquaintancestriedtoconvincefutureprospectorstoabandontheir
ambitions.Warningsaboutthedangerstolifeandlimbaswellasthetemptationsofwickedness
thatawaitedthegoldminerssofarfromhomeragedintheirears.Familiesdebatedwhowould
careforagedorinfirmmothersandfathers,whowouldtakeresponsibilityforthemanagement
offarmsandsmallbusinessesleftunattended,andhowthecostsofthejourneywouldbe
defrayed.Beforedisagreementswereresolved,angrywordsmightbeexchangedandtearsshed.

39

Intheend,though,overcomingallobstaclesandwearingdownallresistance,theymadethe
decisionbythescoresandthehundredsandthethousandstosetoffforthelandofgold.
Withthesedilemmasresolvedatlast,theprospectorsnowturnedtheirattentionto
preparingthemselvesforthejourney.Beforetheirdeparture,manyofthemalsofeltcompelledto
justifytheirchoiceyetagain,whethertothemselvesortoothers,inthediaries,journalsand
lettersthatchronicledtheirtravels.Somechosetoemphasizetheadventurethatlaybeforethem.
Some,whileacknowledgingtheallureoffortuneforothers,professedthemoremodestgoalsof
providingfortheirfamiliesandassuringtheirfuture.
Oncetheyleft,frequentlettersfilledwithencouragement,consolationandadmonition,
soughttopreservethestrongestpossiblelinksbetweenseparatedfamilymembers.While
strugglingtoattendtotheiraffairsinCalifornia,manygoldseekersalsostruggledtoretainsome
partintheconductoffamilyaffairsbackhome.Asmonthsandyearsslippedby,however,some
grewconcernedthattheymighthavenoplaceleftforthem.
Manywomen,suchasLucyStoddardWakefieldandMaryJaneMegquier,joinedthe
rushtoElDoradoandbecameinvolvedinthesamestrugglebetweensuccessandfailureastheir
malecounterparts.Whilesomebraveditonlyvicariously,throughthecareersoftheirhusbands,
manyofthemwerepulledintothefraydirectly.InGoldRusheraCalifornia,withitsemphasis
uponmanuallaborinthegoldfieldsandcommerceinthecitiesandtowns,respectablewomen
wererelegatedtoafewrolesthatmirroredtheirculturallyprescribedresponsibilitieswithinthe
familyashomemaker.However,economicopportunitiesaboundedandmanyGoldRushwomen
enjoyedtheirnewfoundfreedom,especiallytheopportunitytoearntheirownapronsfullof
gold,asMaryJaneMegquierwroteinherlettershome.Womenworkedascooks,teachers,
laundresses,stagecoachdrivers,entertainers,merchants,andminers.
TheunremittingtoilanddrudgerysomanymenandwomenfoundinElDoradoand
wroteofsofrequentlyintheirdiariesandjournals,whetherasprospectororminer,cookor
charwoman,convincedsomethatCaliforniawasnothingmorethanasnareandadelusion.Some
wrotehomecomplainingaboutsuchchallengesandlackofsuccess,butthemajorityputonthe
bravestfrontpossible,writinghomeoftheirundiminishedresolutiontopursuetheirgolden
dreams,evenasthemonthsandyearsdraggedon.

40


Day9
CaliforniaStatehoodCaliforniaMissions

AnalyzedrawingofFatherSerra
BrieflessonabouttheCaliforniamissions
Twoclosereadings(primarysources)andworkwithgrouptoanswerquestions
Explainhomework
Writeoneparagraph(average68sentences)fromtheperspectiveofaNativeAmerican
eithermeetingtheSpanishforthefirsttimeorlivinginamissionandfollowingSpanishrules.
ConsiderthepictureyousawtodayandthedocumentswrittenbytheSpanishmenthatyouread.
WouldyoutrusttheSpanish?Wouldyouwillinglyagreetolivebytheirrules?Whataresomeof
thecustomsandtraditionsyoumighthavetogiveup?

41


Fr.JunperoSerrasFrustratedBaptism(1769)byArthurB.Dodge

Whatactionsdoyousee?
Whatthings/peopledoyousee?
Whatemotionsareconveyed?

42

LessonNotesonCaliforniaMissions
1542
JuanRodriguezCabrillolandsandnamestheareaSanMiguel
60yearslater,in
1602
,SebastianViscainolandsandrenamestheareaSanDiego
SpainwasinterestedinprotectingCaliforniaagainstforeigners,suchastheRussians,and
theyhadbeenabletodosobuttheywerenotsuccessfulinmakingtheindigenouspeople
obeytheircommands
FatherJuniperoSerraandtheFranciscanpriestswerecalleduponbecausetheywereseen
asveryreligiousandexperiencedanditwasbelievedthattheywouldhavemoresuccess
inconvertingtheNativeAmericansintopracticingCatholicsandabidingcitizens
FatherSerraarrivedin
mid1769
andestablishedthefirstmission
By1775,FatherJaymehadbaptizedabout300NativeAmericansbutmanyofthemwere
unhappyandtheydecidedtorevolt.FatherJaymewaskilledandthemissionwasburntto
theground
ThemissionwasrebuiltbyFatherSerrain
1776
andmoremilitarystyleprotectionswere
added
NativeAmericanswhoconvertedtoCatholicismhadtoliveonthemissionsandhelp
takecareofthemthroughfarming,building,andothertasks.
MexicogainedindependencefromSpainin
1821
.Theywerenotfansofthemissionsand
in
1833
theydecidedtosecularizethem,whichmeantthattheCatholicchurchwasno
longerincontrolandinsteadtheMexicangovernmentwas
NativeAmericansreceivedsomeoftheland,butweremoreoftenthannotrobbedofit.
Thebiggestbeneficiariesofthelandwerethesoldierswhohadprotectedthemissions.
Othermissionswentthroughthesameevents

43

LetterfromFatherJuniperoSerratoaFriendDescribingSanDiegoandtheNative
AmericansattheBeginningoftheCaliforniaMissionSystem,1769
MyDearFriend,
ThankGodIarrivedthedaybeforeyesterday,thefirstofthemonth,atthisportofSanDiego,
trulyafineone,andnotwithoutreasoncalledfamous.HereIfoundthosewhohadsetoutbefore
me,bothbyseaandland,exceptthosewhohavedied.Thebrethren*,FathersCresp,Vizcaino,
ParronandGomez,areherewithmyself,andallarequitewell,thankGod.Herearealsothetwo
vessels*,buttheSanCarloswithoutsailors,allhavingdiedofthescurvy*,excepttwo.TheSan
Antonio,althoughshesailedamonthandahalflater,arrivedtwentydaysbeforetheSanCarlos,
losingonthevoyageeightsailors.Inconsequenceofthisloss,ithasbeenresolvedthattheSan
AntonioshallreturntoSanBlas,tofetchsailorsforherselfandfortheSanCarlos.
Vocabulary
*brethrenfellowpriests
*vesselsships
*scurvyadiseasethatresultsfromnot
eatingenoughvitaminC

Notes/Questions

ThecausesofthedelayoftheSanCarloswere:first,lackofwater,owingtothecasks
beingbad,which,together,withbadwaterobtainedonthecoast,occasionedsicknessamongthe
crewandsecondly,theerrorwhichallwereinrespectingthesituationofthisport.They
supposedittobethirtythreeorthirtyfourdegreesnorthlatitude,somesayingoneandsomethe
other,andstrictordersweregiventoCaptainVillaandtheresttokeepoutintheopenseatill
theyarrivedatthethirtyfourthdegree,andthentomaketheshoreinsearchoftheport.As,
however,theportinrealityliesinthirtytwodegreesthirtyfourminutes,accordingtothe
observationsthathavebeenmade,theywentmuchbeyondit,thusmakingthevoyagemuch
longerthanwasnecessary.Thepeoplegotdailyworsefromthecoldandthebadwater,andthey
mustallhaveperished*iftheyhadnotdiscoveredtheportaboutthetimetheydid.Fortheywere
quiteunabletolaunchtheboattoprocuremorewater,ortodoanythingwhateverfortheir
preservation.FatherFernandodideverythinginhispowertoassistthesickandalthoughhe
arrivedmuchreducedinflesh,hedidnotbecomeill,andisnowwell.Wehavenotsuffered
hungerorotherprivations*,neitherhavetheIndianswhocamewithusallarrivedwelland
healthy.
44

Vocabulary
*caskslargewooden
barrels
*perishedtodieorbe
ruined
*privationsitems
neededforhuman
survivalsuchaswater,
food,andwarmth

Response
Notes
What2reasonsdidFatherSerranoteforthedelayof
theirship?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
FatherSerramentionsthatadiseasekilledmany
peoplewhatdiseasedoyouthinkhewastalking
about?
___________________________________________

Thetractoflandthroughwhichwepassedisgenerallyverygoodland,withplentyof
waterandthere,aswellashere,thecountryisneitherrockynoroverrunwithbrushwood.
Thereare,however,manyhills,buttheyarecomposedofearth.Theroadhasbeengoodinsome
places,butthegreaterpartbad.Abouthalfway,thevalleysandbanksofrivuletsbegantobe
delightful.Wefoundvinesofalargesize,andinsomecasesquiteloadedwithgrapeswealso
foundanabundanceofroses,whichappearedtobelikethoseofCastile.
WehaveseenIndiansinimmensenumbers,andallthoseonthiscoastofthePacific
contrivetomakeagoodsubsistenceonvariousseeds,andbyfishing.Thelattertheycarryonby
meansofraftsorcanoes,madeoftule(bullrush)withwhichtheygoagreatwaytosea.Theyare
verycivil.Allthemales,oldandyoung,gonakedthewomen,however,andthefemale
children,aredecentlycoveredfromtheirbreastsdownward.Wefoundonourjourney,aswellas
intheplacewherewestopped,thattheytreateduswithasmuchconfidenceandgoodwillasif
theyhadknownusalltheirlives.Butwhenweofferedthemanyofourvictuals,theyalways
refusedthem.Alltheycaredforwascloth,andonlyforsomethingofthissortwouldthey
exchangetheirfishorwhateverelsetheyhad.Duringthewholemarchwefoundhares,rabbits,
somedeer,andamultitudeofberendos(akindofawildgoat).
IprayGodmaypreserveyourhealthandlifemanyyears.
FromthisportandintendedMissionofSanDiego,inNorthCalifornia,thirdJuly,1769.
FR.JUNIPEROSERRA

45

Vocabulary
*rivuletssmall
streams
*subsistencefood
*victualsfood

Response
WhatwasFatherSerrasfirstimpressionofthe
NativeAmericans?(Paycloseattentiontohowhe
describesthemandtheirbehaviors).
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

Notes

FrederickW.BeecheyGivesHisAnalysisoftheCaliforniaMissionSystem,1826
TheobjectofthemissionsistoconvertasmanyofthewildIndiansaspossibleandto
trainthemupwithinthewallsoftheestablishmentintheexerciseofgoodlife,andofsome
trade,sothattheymayintimebeabletoprovidefromthemselvesandbecomeusefulmembers
ofcivilizedsociety.Astothevariousmethodsemployedforthepurposeofbringingproselytes*
tothemission,thereareseveralreports,ofwhichsomewerenotverycreditabletothe
institution:nevertheless,onthewholeIamoftheopinionthatthepriestsareinnocent,froma
conviction*thattheyareignorantofthemeansemployedbythosewhoareunderthem.
Vocabulary
*proselytesanew
converttoareligion
*convictionformal
declarationofbeing
guilty

Response
Whatdoesitmeanforsomeonetobeauseful
memberofcivilizedsociety?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

Notes

Whatevermaybethesystem,andwhethertheIndiansbereallydraggedfromtheirhomes
andfamiliesbyarmedparties,assomeassert,ornotandforcedtoexchangetheirlifeoffreedom
andwanderingforoneofconfinement*andrestraintinthemissions,thechangeaccordingtoour
ideasofhappinesswouldseemadvantageoustothem,astheyleadafarbetterlifeinthemissions
thanintheirforests,wheretheyareinastateofnudity,andarefrequentlyobliged*todepend
solelyuponwildacornsforsubsistence.

46

Vocabulary
*confinementtobe
restricted
*obligedforced

Response
AccordingtoBeechey,theNativeAmericanswill
bebetteroffiftheylistentoSpanish.Whydoeshe
believethis?
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
__________________________________

Notes

ImmediatelytheIndiansarebroughttothemissiontheyareplacedunderthetuition*of

someofthemostenlightenedoftheircountrymen,whoteachthemtorepeatinSpanishthe
LordsPrayerandcertainpassagesin[theHolyBible].InafewdaysawillingIndiansuffers
tobebaptized,and[is]initiatedintothechurch.However,if,anycapturedIndiansshow
repugnance*toconversion,itispracticetoimprisonthemforafewdays.[
Incarceration
lasts]
untiltheydeclaretheirreadinesstorenounce*thereligionoftheirforefathers.

[Indiansaretaughttradessuchasweavers,shoemakers,bricklayers,carpenters,and

blacksmiths.]Inrequital*ofthesebenefits,theservicesoftheIndian,forlife,belongtothe
mission,andifany
neophyte
shouldrepentofhisapostasy*fromthereligionofhisancestors
anddesert,andarmedforceissentinpursuitofhim,anddragshimtopunishmentapportionedto
thedegreeofaggravationattachedtohiscrime
Vocabulary
*tuitionteaching
*repugnanceintense
disgust
*renouncegiveup
*requitalsomething
giveninreturn
*apostasyabandoning
yourreligionfor
anotherreligion

Response
Notes
Whatdoesincarcerationmean?
________________________________________
Neomeansnewandphytemeansgrowth.
Usingthisknowledgeandthecontext,whatdo
youthinkneophytemeans?
________________________________________
IfaNativeAmericandecideshenolongerwants
tobeCatholic,whatwouldhappentohim?
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

47

Day10
InterviewsandLetters

48

Day10
InterviewsandLetters

Studentswillhavesometimeinclasstoworkontheirinterviewsorletters.Thoseconductingan
interviewshouldhaveaclearplanwiththeirpartnertodeterminewhentheywillfilm,whattheir
costumeswillbe,andhoweditingofthefilmwillbedone.

CaliforniaGoldRush:LetterorInterview

Youwilleitherchoosetowriteafriendlyletteronyourownorchooseapartnertowrite
andfilmaninterview.Youwillbeputtingyourselfintotheshoesofanotherandwrite
fromtheperspectivefromoneofthemanygroupsofpeoplewhomadetheirwaytolive
inCaliforniaduringtheGoldRush.

Yourfriendlyletterorinterviewshouldcoverquestionslike:

WhatwaslifelikeduringtheGoldRushforyourperson?Yourethnicgroup?How
weretheytreated?Whatchallengesdidtheyface?

HowdidthatpersonarriveinCalifornia?Whatroute?Why?

Didtheypanforgold?Whatistheirrelationshipwithothergroups?

Wheredotheylive?Eat?Sleep?Entertainment?

Whatopportunitieswerethere?Wheretheysuccessful?Whatjobsdidthey
perform?

Thishastoseemlikealegitimateletterfromthepast.Ifyouarefilminganinterview,
youmustdresstheparttomakeitseemlegitimate.Somakesureyouunderstandthe
historicalcontextandkeepthetimeframeandplaceinmind.

MAKESURETOUSETHEVOCABULARYFROMTHEUNIT.

49

InterviewPerformanceRubric

Score

Character
Development:
charactersare
researched,
developed

Characters
roleswere
welldefined.
Depthand
rangeof
emotionis
expansive.

Characters
roleswere
somewhat
defined.
Depthand
rangeofemotion
isadequate.

Characters
roleswere
lacking.
Thereislittle
depthand
range.

Studentsare
doinglittle
morethan
reading.

Voice:
students
canbeheardand
voiceisusedto
propel
performance

Students
consistentlyuse
theirvoice
expressively
andarticulately.
Students
projectsvoice
clearly.
Students
utilizetheir
voicesto
include
variationsof
pitch,volume,
rate,andtone
consistentto
theircharacter.

Students
enunciateclearly.
Studentsvary
voice,pitch,and
toneandreflect
somelevelof
expressiveness.

Students
striveto
enunciateand
addvariations,
butoverall
effectis
flimsydueto
toolittle
expression.

Students
exhibitpoor
vocal
enunciation
andno
variationsin
volumeand/or
pitch.

Preparation:
timeandfocusis
displayedin
performance

Students
linesare
delivered
flawlesslyfrom
memory.
Students
fluidly
delivered
her/hislines
whilehitting
theirmarks
confidently.
Students
obviouslyspent
asignificant
amountoftime
onprojectand
filmedvideo

Students
deliverlinesand
hitmarkswelland
withfewerrors.
Studentsspent
anappropriate
amountoftime
preparingforthe
project.

Studentshad
trouble
delivering
lines.
Studentslack
fluidityin
movementand
deliveryof
linesdidnot
spendnearly
enoughtime
preparing.

Students
cannotperform
withoutnotes.
Students
haveno
fluidityandare
obviouslynot
prepared.

50

readyand
prepared.
Focus:
retaining Studentsstay
focusandstaying completely
incharacter
immersedin
character
throughoutthe
entire
performance.
Students
neverbreak
focusduring
filming.

Studentsweave
inandoutof
characterslightly
throughout
performance.
Studentssubtly
breakfocuswhen
thinkingofnext
line/cueoroutof
obvious
nervousness.

Students
nevertruly
immerse
enoughinto
theircharacter
toproduceany
kindof
believability.
Students
focusareeasily
broken
attention
waversoften.

Students
makelittleto
noattemptat
stayinginany
typeof
character.
Students
lackfocusand
seem
unprepared.

Teamwork:
abilitytowork
withapartner

Students
awarenessand
empathytoward
theirpartneris
acceptable.
Students
teamworkis
apparent.
Workis
somewhatequal
betweenpartners.

Students
awarenessand
empathy
towardtheir
partnerisweak.
Students
seemtohave
littleconceptof
howtoworkas
partners.
Workdoes
notseemequal
between
partners

Students
awarenessand
empathy
towardtheir
partnerisnon
existent.
Students
haveno
conceptofhow
toworkina
group.
Workisnot
equalbetween
partners.

Studentsare
awareand
empathic
towardtheir
partner.
Students
teamworkis
veryapparent.
Workissplit
equallybetween
thepartners.

51

FriendlyLetterRubric

Character
Development

Content

Organization

Conventions

Overall

Characters
roleswere
welldefined.
Depthand
rangeofemotion
isexpansive.
Believability
wasveryhigh.

Promptis
addresses.
Topicis
clearlydefined.
Details
supporttopic.
Details,facts,
VOCABULAR
Y,areincluded.
Wordchoice
isgradelevel
appropriateor
beyondto
subject,
audience,and
purpose.

Includesall
partsofa
friendlyletter.
Atleast3
complete
paragraphswith
atopic
sentences.
Abundant
transitional
words/phrasesto
highlightlinks
betweenideas,
sentences.
Thereisa
clearbeginning,
middle,andend.

Varietyof
sentencelength
andstyle.
Properuseof
indentionand
margins.
Few,ifany,
errorsin
spelling,
grammar,
capitalization,
andpunctuation.

Superiorwork
thatgoesbeyond
satisfactory
work.
Effectively
statespointof
viewormain
idea.
Strong
evidenceof
writersvoice.
Thorough
treatmentof
mainidea.

Characters
roleswere
somewhat
defined.
Depthand
rangeofemotion
isadequate.
Somewhat
believable

Promptis
somewhat
addressed.
Topicisnot
as
welldeveloped.
Supporting
detailsnotas
welldeveloped.
Somedetails
andfactsare
included.
Someprecise
vocabularyis
included.

Includesall
partsofa
friendlyletter.
Atleast3
complete
paragraphswith
atopicsentences
andadequate
supports.
Showssome
senseof
organization.
Thereisan
attempttouse
transitional
words/phrases.
Logical
beginning,
middle,andend
withsome
lapses.

Complete
sentences,but
littlevarietyof
lengthandstyle.
Minorerrors
inuseof
indentionand
margins.
Someerrorsin
spelling,
grammar,
capitalization,
andpunctuation.

Acceptable
workwithsome
areasinneedof
improvement.
Addresses
mainideaor
prompt.
Meetsbasic
requirementsfor
satisfactory
work.

Characters
roleswere
lacking.
Thereislittle
depthandrange.

Promptisnot
addressed.
Topicand
supporting
sentencesare

Includessome
partsofa
friendlyletter.
Atleasttwo
paragraphsof

Somerunon
andfragmented
sentences..
Seriouserrors
inuseof

Marginally
acceptablework.
Partial
understandingof
thewriting

52

Notvery
believable

weak.
Thereare
littledetailsand
factsincluded.
Limitedand
predictable
vocabulary.

mostlycomplete
thoughtsand
topicsentences
withsome
supporting
details.
Some
supporting
detailsbut
meaningcould
beclearer.
Attempts
beginning,
middle,andend.
Needsfurther
development.
Minimal
overall
organization.
Similarideas
arenotgrouped
together.
Paragraphs
lacktransitions.

indentionand
margins.
Errorsin
spelling,
grammar,
capitalization,
andpunctuation
interferewith
communication.
Littlevariety
insentence
patternsand
lengths..

process.
Errorsmay
makeitdifficult
tounderstand.

Charactersare
notdefinedat
all.
Not
believableatall.

Promptisnot
addressed.
Onlyslightly
relatedtotopic.
Nodetailsor
factslisted.
Limited,
inappropriate,or
confusing
vocabulary.
Insufficient
content.
Inadequate
developmentof
ideas.

Doesnot
includepartsof
afriendlyletter.
Sentencesbut
noparagraph
form.
Nosenseof
organizationor
logicalflowto
theideas
presented.
Veryfew
details.
Meaning
unclear.
Poorly
defined
beginning,
middle,andend.

Several
runonand
fragmented
sentences.
Noindention
ormargins.
Seriouserrors
inmechanics
andimpede
readers
understanding.
Commonly
usedwords
misspelled.

Workhas
problemsor
patternsoferrors
innearlyevery
domain.
Minimal
graspofthe
writingprocess.

53