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The Concepcion Earthquake
The Concepcion earthquake of 1835 occurred near the cities of Talcahuano, and Concepcion in Chile, the earthquake triggered a tsunami and caused the destruction of the city of Talcahuano
a series of minor temblors, which came like God’s wrath, finished destroying everything . . .” (Allende 38-39) -
The Opium War
The opium war was caused by China attempting to suppress opium trades. Traders, primarily British, were illegally exporting opium to China,
“In 1839 when the Opium war between China and Great Britain broke out, Tao Chi’en was sixteen years old. At that point the country was overrun with beggars. Makes of humanity poured from the countryside and appeared with their tatters, and pustules in the cities, where they were driven back, forced to wander the highway of the empire, (200) -
European Immigration to Chile
European colonists, immigrated from their homeland to Chile not only Chile but North and South American countries. In 1845 a law stated that the European colonists a passage to Chile as they would get land and supplies upon their arrival to Chile.
“The government is trying to improve the race by importing European immigrants. Did you know, Mr Todd, that in the south they are giving away land to colonists?” (23) -
Chileans arrive to California (SF)
Most Chilenos arrived late in 1848, long before the 49ers from the U.S. They represented the only experienced mining men in California at the time. They educated the 48ers on how to dig shafts, chase a lead, panning, and the best locations to find gold.
At the places where gold was found, the Idyllic land, which had remained untouched since the beginning of time, was turned into a lunar nightmare.” (329) -
Women in the gold rush
Women during the gold rush were mainly women who worked for saloons and brothels, some were prostitutes and some were married to captains and businessmen or marrying captains and buisness men. When they are referred to as “light in morals” in this quote Allende is referring to how many women in the gold rush were prostitutes.
“ Besides very few women, we’re going to San Francisco, and all of them of light morals, with the exception of an occasional captains or business men’s wife.” -
Gold rush
The gold rush was started by a man named James Marshall, who discovered gold in Sutter's mill, located in Coloma California. Over 300,000 people came into SF in search ofgold. “By that time there were more than 100,000 argonauts in California, and more kept arriving, scattered all through the mother lode, turning the world upside down, movingmountains, diverting rivers, destroying forests, pulverizing rising rock, displacing tons of sand and digging monumental pits.” (329) -
Joaquín Murrieta
nearly every time a major crime was committed in CA, Joaquin became the suspect. A feeling of terror swept over California. In May of 1853 a bounty was put on Joaquins head. In July a group of rangers supposedly shot and killed him along with "Three-Fingered Jack" and they cut off his head which went on display. Nor had anyone been able to identify Joaquin Murrieta: fremont himself went to see the head and could not be sure it was the bandit he knew although it certainly resembled him.” (483) -
The American Dream
The true meaning of the American dream is up for interpretation , but we can agree that it consists of the hope that opportunities in. “Azuneca Placerea patiently washed Eliza with a soapy cloth and even improvised a way to wash her hair in a few cupfuls of water as she told Eliza sad tales about her life as a whore and of her fantasy of getting rich in California and returning to Chile as a lady with six trunks of clothes fit for a queen and one gold tooth.”