Book review: the California gold rush

The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War by Leonard L. Richards

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The book illustrates some of the tension that broke up the federation of states, and led to the civil war. The miners were a microcosm of America in the mid nineteenth century.  Some of the men southern others northern, but all reshaping what the confederation stood for.  The conflicts of states' rights, slavery, and the correct faith.  Also of interest was the exploration of the mormon problem.   Sometimes, I felt overwhelmed by facts, and lost the narrative.  The book overall was interesting.



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