-
Begining of the Opium War in China
“The first Opium War was fought between China and Great Britain from 1839 to 1842. 1839-1842.” (200)
Tao Chi’en is sixteen and his country is in chaos.
The Opium Wars marked the start of the era of unequal treaties between China and foreign imperialist powers (primarily Great Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Russia, and Japan) in which China was forced to concede many of its territorial and sovereignty rights. -
Natural disasters that affected the population
“That was the year of the floods, which were immortalized in schoolchildren’s textbooks and in their grandparents’ memories. . . .a series of minor temblors, which came like God’s wrath, finished destroying everything . . .” (38-39).
The misery of the floods that happened in Chile between 1843 to 1847. This natural disaster also destroyed everything and affected the population profoundly . -
California Gold Rush
"... rich veins of silver and gold were discovered in the north" (65).
California Gold Rush and the impact of mineral wealth on society. Within the first few years, the gold output was staggering. By the end of 1849, miners extracted an estimated $10 million worth of gold. This number soared into hundreds of millions in the subsequent years, leading to a boost in the American economy. -
San Francisco is a little town
“While San Francisco was not a big town, its population of about one thousand by 1848 made it much larger than any other settlement in the Bay Area.”
Between 1848 and 1855, San Francisco was transformed from a sleepy little town of around 800 residents into a booming city of over 50,000 people. -
Sacramento is the port of access
"June 1849"
Sacramento is the port of access for the argonauts that kept arriving more and more -
Backdrop of California Gold Rush
“ Almost overnight, the gold rush transformed San Francisco into a booming city filled with makeshift tent-houses, hotels, stores, saloons, gambling halls, and shanties. By 1849, as the gold rush fever swept through the country, the city's population exploded to a staggering 25,000.”(328).
The California Gold Rush took place against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution and served as an accelerant for U.S. economic development in the 19th Century. -
After California's admission as a state
“In 1849, Californians sought statehood and, after heated debate in the U.S. Congress arising out of the slavery issue, California entered the Union as a free, nonslavery state by the Compromise of 1850. “ (370).
The narrator uses this quote to show how crucial the admission of California as a free state was, and after a debate in the U.S. congress became a non slavery state by the Compromise. -
California's admission to the Union as the 31st state
"California becomes a state" (386)
In 1849, Californians sought statehood and, after heated debate in the U.S. Congress arising out of the slavery issue, California entered the Union as a free, nonslavery state by the Compromise of 1850. California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850.