Today in History: Sacramento, California

Today in History: Sacramento, California

Today in History–November 25–the Library of Congress features Sacramento, California, a boom town during the mid-19th-century gold rush. By 1854 the city had become the state capital. Learn more about the city of Sacramento by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources. Pioneer Life in Sacramento from America’s Library…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: The Way They Go to California

Guided Primary Source Analysis: The Way They Go to California

What different types of transportation are these men trying to use to get to California? Cartoonists sometimes exaggerate, or overdo, physical characteristics of people and things. Zoom into a more detailed image of this cartoon and look for examples of exaggeration. Describe one example and explain why it is a form of exaggeration for this situation. Find out about…

Today in History: Gold Discovered in California

Today in History: Gold Discovered in California

Today in History–January 24–the Library of Congress features gold, discovered in California on this day in 1848. The discovery was first met with skepticism and the California gold rush did not begin in full until after an endorsement from President James Polk in December, 1848. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to discover…