The Klondike Gold Rush
A Stepping Stone to Yukon's Settlement in Canada
All About the Klondike Gold Rush
- led to the establishment of Dawson City in 1896 and Yukon in 1898
- caused stampede of people to Klondike between 1897-1899
- changed the image of Yukon- known as just a barren wasteland
- the rush was in the Northern West, Yukon and Alaska
- some people became very wealthy because of this gold rush
- mining was difficult due to permafrost
- first strike was in August 17th 1896 with George Carmack and his two Native American in-laws
- the actual search was in 1874
- no one learned about the gold strike until July 1897
- brought 100,000 gold seekers
- North-West Mounted Police was in charge of maintaining law
- hundreds of millions worth of gold were taken out of the ground
- bad for the environment
How it Affected Yukon's Settlement
- Canada sent Northwest Mounted Police to control area
- population grew rapidly
- grew population in Dawson City (25,000 people over night and 40,000 people in two years)
- Yukon became a separate territory in 1898 (during gold rush)
- Canada was interested in resources
- railroads were made to transport gold and this connected Yukon to Canada
Who It Affected: The First Nations
- drastic reduction of moose,caribou and fish
- destruction of salmon streams
- loss of market- couldn't trade of sell their resources
- resources were taken away
Pictures of the Klondike Gold Rush
Prospectors in a tent camp at Bennett Lake waiting for the ice on Yukon River.
The S/S Excelsior leaves San Francisco on July 28, 1897, for the Klondike
A picture of First Nations people in this time period and were in the Yukon area.
Sources
Berton, Pierre. "Ruée vers l'or du Klondike ," The Canadian Encyclopedia, March 5.2015 http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004349
"Klondike Gold Rush", Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,March 5.2015 http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush
"Alaska Genaology" Alaska Web, March 5.2015 http://www.alaskaweb.org/