GKE_Task_1.docx GKE Task 1 Task 1: A: The California Gold Rush and The Dust Bowl were

GKE_Task_1.docx    GKE Task 1  Task 1: A:  The California Gold Rush and The Dust Bowl were two of the most significant environmental/ geographic factors that contributed to the development or expansion of the United States.  Both events caused people to abandon their homes, families and jobs in search of something they believed to be greater than what they already had.  Due to the finding of gold in California, “The populations of many of the coastal towns were depleted as prospective prospectors headed to the gold fields” (Ibis Communications, Inc, 2012).  The California Gold Rush created a mad dash across the country either over the mountains or by sea.  People were even going to California from other countries.    “But they came. And came.  Englanders came on anything that would float…They came from Michigan, Ohio, and western Pennsylvania.  Minors from Georgia to the Sante Fe Trail and routes across Mexico.  Those with money came by steamer to Panama, and then by dugout and mule to the Pacific side of the isthmus for another steamer to San Francisco.  By the end of 1849 there were 40,000 people in the mines…Companies were being formed in Great Britain, Germany, and France.  Miners were recruited from China” (Gallucci, 2000).  People were traveling to California not just to mine the gold.  Anyone that had a skilled trade that was not mining gold set up shop to service the miners.  Doctors, shopkeepers and the like moved their practices to California during this time.    The fa