African Americans After the Gold Rush
After the California Gold Rush, African Americans found that their lives were greatly improved. During the 1860 elections, the majority of the state was Democratic. However, because California was split over two candidates, John Breckinridge and Stephen Douglas, the electoral vote went to Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln's induction into presidency was certainly a positive step towards improving the lives of African Americans, as he supported preventing the spread of slavery. Also, even though African Americans lacked major rights, they still considered themselves American. As a result, many fought in the Civil War. With the Civil War brought general respect and awareness to the cause of African American suffrage, and in 1870 African Americans, at last, received the right to vote.
Overall, the California Gold Rush was beneficial to the African Americans that were occupying the region. With the Gold Rush brought more people, and thus more awareness to the unfair treatment of the entire race. Before the Gold Rush, African Americans had close to no rights. During the Gold Rush, even a free African American faced the chance that someone might claim them falsely as their slave, and they could do nothing about it. After the Gold Rush, Africans had extended rights, and although they still faced discrimination, they found their lives were greatly improved. This was largely due to events subsequent to the Gold Rush. However, those events were sparked by the Gold Rush.