-
1830-1850 Chilean Silver Rush
“. . . rich veins of silver and gold were discovered in the north” (Allende 65). “Chilean silver mining grew at an unprecedented space which transformed mining into one of the country's principal sources of wealth” (alchetron.com). This highlights a time in Chilean history where the country was thriving. There was political calm, an economic boom, and no devastating storms. Photo by Suvana Garge (alchetron.com) -
1835 Conception Earthquake
“. . . a series of minor temblors, which came like God’s wrath, finished destroying everything . . .” (Allende 38-39). “ The people rushed out of doors in the greatest alarm. It is these accompaniments that create that perfect horror of earthquakes,” (geo.cornell.edu). This massive earthquake ravaged Chile and it’s inhabitants. Leaving its historic impact on the country due to the flooding caused by the natural disaster. Photo by David Dobbs (wired.com) -
1839 Opium War
“. . . or a pipe of opium, which he savored slowly, grateful that there were gifts in the world as dazzling as the consolation of rice, the sweetness of sugar, and the perfect dreams of opium” (Allende 213). “When the British later discovered the value of the opium trade, they determined to benefit” (britannica.com). The narrator refers to Opium as providing perfect dreams. China had banned the use of it but it was still traded
by the British. Photo by The New York Times (nytimes.com) -
1848 In Search of Gold
“By that time there were more than a hundred thousand argonauts in California, and more kept arriving,” (Allende 329). “The sight of California's riches captivated Chileans. Perez Rosales began to make plans to recoup the family fortune” (pbs.org). The news of fortune from a new world attracted huge amounts of adventurers and explorers.Seeking treasure and riches. Although the main character, Eliza, was searching for love. Photo by Biblioteca Nacional De Chile (pbs.org) -
1849 Anti-Chilean Sentiment During the Gold Rush
“The Yanquis, fed up with the foreigners, joined together to run them out,” (Allende 370). “Chileans were also targeted by American miners determined that non-Americans would get no part of California's riches” (PBS.org). Afraid of the competition, white prospectors attacked and ravaged people of color during the Gold Rush. They destroyed communities and murdered several. Photo by Anthony Belli (legendsofamerica.com) -
1849 California Gold Rush
“It was impossible to count them, but he estimated more than a hundred ships abandoned as if in the heat of battle” (Allende 263). “San Francisco was thus a large enough town to attract the significant commerce resulting from the gold discovery” (Maldetto 1). The reader can infer, that argonauts were so eager to find gold, they didn’t bother docking their ships correctly. They seemed to abandon ship and look for gold. Photo by FoundSF (foundsf.org) -
1850 California joins U.S.A.
“In September of 1850, Tao was present at the noisy patriotic celebration when California became the newest state in the union” (Allende 386). “California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850 (CA.gov). Allende conveys this exciting moment by illustrating the chaotic celebration in the reader’s mind. Photo by The Compromise of 1850-Heritage Society (compromise-of-1850.org) -
1853 A New Home
“Gold had attracted a quarter of a million immigrants in four years’ time but the bonanza had passed” (Allende 457). “By 1852, San Francisco's overgrown mining camp era was rapidly disappearing, . . . By 1853, San Francisco had 50,000 inhabitants, 8,000 of them women” (spur.org). The vast majority of immigrant fortune seekers stayed in California. They came for gold and stayed to build a new home. Photo by Billy Pearson (picryl.com)