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Gold was discovered in Australia as early as 1823, but discoveries were kept secret for a number of reasons.
First, there was the fear of sparking off unrest among the convicts. There was concern that, if the convicts heard about these discoveries, they would be more likely to attempt escape, and find their way to the goldfields to either look for gold, or to become bushrangers. This is why the first unofficial discovery of gold by Surveyor James McBrien at the Fish River near Bathurst, NSW in 1823, was kept quiet. When Reverend WB Clark found gold near Lithgow in 1941, he was requested by Governor Gipps to keep quiet about it. Gipps is reported to have said, "Put it away, Mr Clarke, or we will all have our throats cut!"
The discoveries were often made on good land. Settlers did not want a sudden influx of prospectors trooping over their properties, ruining good pastureland for their livestock, or damaging crops. They certainly did not want to risk the lawlessness that would inevitably follow. Not did they want their workers leaving in droves to find gold.
Prior to 1851, any gold discoveries automatically belonged to the government. There was no motivation for individuals to go out and actively seek gold, and certainly no motivation for them to make these discoveries public.
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Which discovery made American settlers travel west in the 1840s and 1850s?
Gold! By Jerman Alba
How did the US government make the American public have confidence in the nation's currency in the 1870S's?
The government adopted the gold standard.
What was a monetary system in which the government would give people silver and gold in exchange for paper currency?
bimetallism
During the gilded age republicans and democrats held differing view on what?
gold standard and government aid to business.
WHAT WAS The purpose of the gold rush?
the purpose of the gold rush was for people to get more money. back then it hard was to get alot of money.when James marshall foud gold he didnt believe it.so he took it down to john sutter.after thhey were sure it was gold the wanted to keep it a secret,but one of the workers found gold and told every one. +_++ God Rushes occurred when some prospector found a fair amount of gold, usually in remote and harsh lands! Most who followed him lived in great hardship and made little if any money from their ventures.
Why did Melbourne prosper in the 1850s?
Melbourne prospered during the 1850s as a result of the gold rush in Victoria.
What were some gold nuggets found in the 1850s?
They were probably gold nuggets.
How did people in the 1850s get to the gold fields in Australia?
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Was panning for gold easy in the 1850s?
no it wasnt
How was gold mined in Australia in the 1850s?
by using tools
How much did it cost to sell a pick and shovel in the 1850s during the gold rush in California?
before the gold rush, a pick cost about two or three dollars, but after the gold rush the price was raised to six dollars
Why did many chinse migrate to Australia in the 1850s?
the gold rush
What changes occured in the colonies leading up to the 1850 that enabled there to be a gold rush?
The establishment of Victoria and Tasmania as separate colonies from New South Wales in the 1850s proved to create just the right environment for a gold rush. Before 1851, the New South Wales colonial government suppressed gold finds for fear that it would destabilize the economy.
How much gold is in a us ten dollar gold coin?
0.48375 troy ounces (in a real gold dollar from the 1850s)
Who did all the gold belong to before the gold rush?
before 1851, all gold in Australia belonged to the Government. Anyone found selling Gold was breaking the law.
What was the main cause of people moving to California from 1848-1850s?
The Gold Rush.
What was the main occupation for people arriving in California and Oregon in the 1850s?
Gold mining.
