Yukon/Klondike Gold Rush
The Gold Rush Three men named George Washington Carmack, Skookum Jim Mason, and Dawson Charlie found gold in a river named Rabbit Creek now named Bonanza Creek in Yukon, Canada. The news of their find was published in newspapers, mainly in California. Once others got word about their find, many left their families to find gold in Alaska. At this time, American citizens were suffering from an economic depression. As a result, people had no money and were poor. The Yukon Gold Rush afforded citizens the opportunity for wealth and people were eager to join the venture. In the 1800s people in the United States had no jobs to pay for their families. Most people lived in shanty towns and small houses that were approximately 15-20 feet across. Because of the lack of employment, many had no money to pay for food. A bucket of beef was $60, a bushel of wheat was around $1.00, and a barrel of flour was $3.00 in the late 1800s. The average American made about $16.00 a week. Others, lik...