CH 5 Questions

1.     Outline the Yukon Gold Rush make sure to include the routes to Klondike, Canadian Requirements, and the development of Skagway.

a.     News of gold in the Yukon reached the lower 48 and people rushed after it

b.     There were three main ways to reach the Klondike

                                               i.     By water, taking a ship fron San Fransisco to Seattle then using the rivers to go up the Yukon to Dawson

1.     This was the easiest but most spendy way

                                              ii.     Two routes in Skgway, the Chilkoot and White Pass. Both of them had dangerous passes

1.     Chilkoot – shorter, but steeper

2.     White Pass – animals could be taken

c.      Once in Canada from America, the miners had to prove they had a years supply of goods with them because it was so remote

d.     Skagway was the supply center for the two trails leading out of it. With all the people going through it, Skagway became populated very quickly.

2.     Who was Soapy Smith?

a.     A gangster/con artist who controlled Skagway and swindled unwary miners.

3.     Outline the Nome Gold Rush.

a.     It was a slow start because prospector were wary of false information

b.     However, that summer (1899) the town boomed and prospectors fought over claims viciously

c.      A judge, Arthur Noyes, along with other high ups were corrupt so that demoralized the population and lead to further lawlessness

4.     Outline the gold rush in Fairbanks.

a.     Felix Pedro & ET Barnette established a claim and a general store

b.     Barnette made friends in the capital and spread the word of gold

c.      A lot of prospectors came, but the area ended up being mainly small companies because of the equipment need to mine in the cold hard ground

d.     Fairbanks became the capital/main town of the area because the Third Judicial Court moved there

5.     Who was Judge Wickersham?

a.     A judge who moved the Third Judicial Court to Fairbanks, ensuring a steady population

6.     How did all these gold rushes change Alaska?

a.     It encouraged infrastructure development

b.     It created population growth

c.      It allowed a certain amount of slf-government that lead to becoming a territory

d.     Brought Alaska to national attention