Klondik Gold Rush Research Paper
The Unfulfilled Dream at Klondike Klondike Gold Rush, which is also known as Yukon Gold Rush, was one of the world’s most influential impacts of the discovery of gold. The rush started by the accidental discovery of a gold placer in Rabbit Creek, Yukon, by a man named Skookum Jim Mason and his brother in law, George Carmack, in 1896 (Klondike Gold Rush). The news of the gold finding spread through the Yukon River valley and eventually reached the United States in 1897. At that time, the United States was hit by an economy crisis which caused a widespread unemployment. So people who lost their job were trying to change their luck by joining the gold rush with the hope they could strike it rich. Those who went to Klondike to find their own
…show more content…
The journey was difficult to get through and also the gold fields were located in a remote area, which made it harder to access. There were several different ways to get to the fields. The first way was the easiest route which called the “Rich Man’s Route”. It was 4,700 miles trip by a boat started from Seattle and ended at Yukon River, then the stampeders from there could continue to Dawson City (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). It was referred as the “Rich Man’s Route” because at that time the boat ticket fare was high, which was caused by the gold rush so the boat company raised the fare, and people who could afford this route only those who were rich enough to pay the fare. This travel method was easy so most people who travel this way could easily reach Klondike. The second route was probably the most difficult way to get to Klondike. It was a journey started from Edmonton, Alberta, and ended in Dawson City. People seldom chose this route because it was the toughest and most dangerous route. If people chose this way, they have to travel 1,600 miles which could take about two years before they could reach Dawson City (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). For the reasons above, the third route was the most popular route, which known as the “Poor Man’s Trail”. The route began by traveling on a boat from Seattle and headed north …show more content…
Although they could make it through the harsh condition and near death experience, but if they know nothing about the gold and what do they have to do when they get there, the trip would be meaningless. Some of the stampeders who decided to go to Klondike were influenced by the news which said that the gold in Klondike was easy to get. They just have to endure the long journey to Klondike and collect their gold. Caused by the economy crisis that time, people who suffered financially because of the widespread unemployment were blinded by the greediness and the hope that they could also strike it rich. They did not do any research about the gold fields, what to prepare for the trip, and the unfriendly condition along the journey to get to Klondike. They simply just packed their belongings and joined the rush. The first problem that the stampeders faced was the bad weather that they have to face during their long trip to Klondike. They did not prepare for this condition and some of them did not bring enough heavy clothing to keep themselves warm during the winter. The effect of this careless action was there were people dead caused by the freezing weather (Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory 1897). Other problem was some of the stampeders did not know about the regulation from the Northwest Mounted Canada that every person who
The journey was difficult to get through and also the gold fields were located in a remote area, which made it harder to access. There were several different ways to get to the fields. The first way was the easiest route which called the “Rich Man’s Route”. It was 4,700 miles trip by a boat started from Seattle and ended at Yukon River, then the stampeders from there could continue to Dawson City (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). It was referred as the “Rich Man’s Route” because at that time the boat ticket fare was high, which was caused by the gold rush so the boat company raised the fare, and people who could afford this route only those who were rich enough to pay the fare. This travel method was easy so most people who travel this way could easily reach Klondike. The second route was probably the most difficult way to get to Klondike. It was a journey started from Edmonton, Alberta, and ended in Dawson City. People seldom chose this route because it was the toughest and most dangerous route. If people chose this way, they have to travel 1,600 miles which could take about two years before they could reach Dawson City (The Story of the Klondike Gold Rush). For the reasons above, the third route was the most popular route, which known as the “Poor Man’s Trail”. The route began by traveling on a boat from Seattle and headed north …show more content…
Although they could make it through the harsh condition and near death experience, but if they know nothing about the gold and what do they have to do when they get there, the trip would be meaningless. Some of the stampeders who decided to go to Klondike were influenced by the news which said that the gold in Klondike was easy to get. They just have to endure the long journey to Klondike and collect their gold. Caused by the economy crisis that time, people who suffered financially because of the widespread unemployment were blinded by the greediness and the hope that they could also strike it rich. They did not do any research about the gold fields, what to prepare for the trip, and the unfriendly condition along the journey to get to Klondike. They simply just packed their belongings and joined the rush. The first problem that the stampeders faced was the bad weather that they have to face during their long trip to Klondike. They did not prepare for this condition and some of them did not bring enough heavy clothing to keep themselves warm during the winter. The effect of this careless action was there were people dead caused by the freezing weather (Klondike Gold Rush Yukon Territory 1897). Other problem was some of the stampeders did not know about the regulation from the Northwest Mounted Canada that every person who