...Everyone knows about the gold rush in California. We know that gold was discovered on January 24,1848, right before the end of the Mexican War the following month. With the end of the war meant adversity was going to be a huge challenge for this newly found territory that would later be known as California in 1850. Right away you have Spaniards turned Mexican then turned American, along with Mexican Americans. These people were known as Californios. Within a month the gold rush was in full swing, so how did these challenges affect the mining process? Was it fair for who found what and who got what? What did it do to the state of California? The gold rush had a large impact on the population within California. After James Marshall discovered...
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..."Movies were intended to talk from their inception, so that in some sense the silent cinema represents a thirty-year aberration from the medium's natural tendency toward a total representation of reality." This quote by David Cook deals with what is referred to as the “silent era” in film history. This era was between 1894 to the early 1920s and dealt with films with no synchronized sound. These films that were produced in this era were known as silent films and include motion pictures with subtitles instead of sound. Some of the motion pictures known as silent films include: The Gold Rush, Girl Shy, For Heaven’s sake, The Dark Angel, and Dangerous Money. The film reviews of these motion picture films will be looked into for a better understanding of how the audience felt about these films. These American films were born in the age of reform and addressed themes that focused on major social and moral issues that the audience could relate to. A common theme that was prevalent in the aforementioned movies is the openness of romance in the American society. Romance films mainly involve a connection or bond shared between the two protagonists. There were many ways the theme love was displayed in these silent films. Some examples of the themes displayed in these romance films include: young love, love at first sight, unrequited love, spiritual love, sexual and passionate love, sacrificial love, tragic love, and forbidden love. The film, The Dark Angel, could be looked...
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...Joseph Andolina Kris Boustedt Cinema 201: Introduction to Cinema History 1/21/13 Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” If there’s one film that should be considered the quintessential representation of triumph in Charlie Chaplin’s large body of work, I would have to say that is The Gold Rush released in 1925. This film was a victory not only for Chaplin as a filmmaker, but also for his beloved character The Tramp. He often mentioned that this was the film “by which he would most like to be remembered”. ( Robinson 334). Prior to The Gold Rush, it was two years since a Charlie Chaplin film release. The film, A Woman of Paris, directed by him and starring Adolphe Menjou, was missing one key element that made up the kind of Chaplin film his fans flocked to see: there was no Chaplin in the guise of his Tramp character anywhere to be seen. Not only was the film a large disappointment to his many fans, it was a box office failure. Author Kenneth Lynn in his book Charlie Chaplin and his Times said it well. “For the first time ever, Chaplin had concocted a flop d’estime that failed to recover its production costs.” (Lynn 277-278). This failure “was too bitter a pill for Chaplin, by now a full-fledged addict of adulation.” (Louvish 196). It’s no wonder why this was a blow to him as artist and filmmaker and a catalyst to make The Gold Rush into one of his most memorable and beloved classics. Watching The Gold Rush, it is easy to see why Chaplin said in a 1925 interview for the New York Times, “I have done...
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...TH 330 – American Cinema January 29, 2010 Gold Rush Does any movie require a happy ending? Charlie Chaplin added his twist to the meaning of “happy endings” when he directed the film Gold Rush. Even when the movie business was in its early years Chaplin recognized that a happy ending could have a variety of meaning. Furthermore, he tantalized the audience from every angle with his resourcefulness and quick wit. In Gold Rush, Chaplin easily makes fun out of being poor and destitute. For one thing, he was able to turn the hazards and tribulations of “coldness” into comedy. In essence, I am referring to the coldness due to the weather and of some people’s reactions to the Little Tramp. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the movie even though it highlights the many aspects of desperate men and women who are willing to put their bodies through immense hardship in the pursuit of gold. For sure, the Little Tramp is by no means on physical par to the other men in the movie; however, he always has an ingenious way of getting what he wants, even the girl. For example, when Big Jim imagines that Charlie is a chicken and runs after him with an axe, Charlie mistakenly shoots a bear and they have food for days. Then, Charlie meets another prospector who lends him his cabin and all he had to do was simply take care of the cabin and the mule. Chaplin was able to pull the audience into the movie; he would have them laughing at one time and sad in the other instance. The film did...
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...In 1914, Making a Living was released, and with it, the world was introduced to Sir Spencer “Charlie” Chaplin. Born in 1889, Chaplin spent his early years preparing himself for the camera in dance troupes and stage comedy routines (Charlie Chaplin, 2005). Having been born into poverty, Chaplin’s rise to fame and riches was tremendously difficult, and in no small part due to Chaplin’s revolutionary approach to cinema and comedy specifically. Chaplin redefined the comedy genre by bringing intelligence and sophistication to what was otherwise a slap-stick dominated field (Charlie Chaplin, 2005). Chaplin achieved this through refining the conventions of filming, extensive character development, portraying gender roles realistically, bringing attention to real world modern issues, and extensive levels of trickery, both in sound and filming. Chaplin’s success is also due, in no small part, to his iconic character: The Tramp. Chaplin was an early adopter and he made his movies in a time when the idea of movies was still relatively new. Though there were other directors, the conventions of movies had yet to be defined and each director would bring what they thought was proper movie techniques to the screen. Chaplin understood the effects of certain camera techniques, and he used this knowledge to his advantage (Mast, G., & Kawin, B., 2011, 107-110). He would use the camera to trick the audience; they would be expecting one thing to happen, but another, more hilarious event would...
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...U.S. & World History Themes One significant environmental factor that has contributed to the development of Egypt’s civilization is the bond between the Nile River and the Egyptian people. The Nile River provides a large amount of water. Soil is a great productivity caused by the Nile. The water levels began to rise each July and the floods reached their full height by the end of August. The flood began to recede, at the end of October, leaving deposits of silt behind (Metz, 1990). This helped flourish the land to produce an abundance of crops for food and trade. This also attracted settlers. With the cultivating success, the Egyptian society evolved rapidly. The Nile River was also the main way to transport goods, trade with outlying communities and to communicate (Hoyt, 2013). It has shaped the life of the Egyptian society. Dr. Robert Whiting describes the geographical process as a way things spread from one place to another (Whiting, PHD, 2013). Among the early human societies, tea is an important part of diffusion. Tea was discovered in China. The ideal climate in the country was perfect for harvesting the tea leaves. Tea can be traced back to 600 BC. It is believed that tea was used for herbal medicinal qualities. Tea became a popular drink during the Tang Dynasty of China (618AD) Tea then spread to Japan in the 6th century, by a priest studying in China. The tea was used for rituals for medicinal use, it is very popular beverage in today Japanese culture....
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...A. Justify your choice of the two most significant environmental/geographic factors that contributed to the development or expansion of the United States. I am choosing the Gold Rush and the Dust Bowl as my two significant factors that have contributed to the development or expansion of the US. The Dust Bowl. In the middle of the 19th century many people were traveling across the US looking for land to farm and make homes on. When they reach the Midwest they thought they had found paradise. The grass was tall and rich all the way from Canada to Texas. Men started to clear the land and started planting crops of wheat. The most ideal was the Southern Plains. The only down side was once the trees and grass was removed the top soil had nothing to hold it into place. The water from the ground that would have gone to the roots of the trees and grass flowed into nearby water ways, such as creeks and rivers. The southern plains were the place to be in the 1930’s. They grew wheat which the government was paying top dollar for because of World War I. The wheat and corn was used to help feed the soldiers and other countries as well as many Americans. In the summer of 1931 a great drought hit the southern plains, turning the once fertile ground into dry brittle dirt. But the lack of water was not the only reason the ground was so dry. The farming practices at that time were depleting the soil of all the nutrients needed to help crops grow. The drought did not stop...
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...advancements. The poem by Poe shows how the era had developed by giving an example of how fast the times were changing: “a poem may be improperly brief”. For example, Americans experienced the “The American Renaissance” which was the first flowering of the American culture. Americans also faced improved transportation that went along with the doubling of our nation's size (“A growing Nation…” 210-220). An important person living during this era was Edgar Allen Poe because he had changed an entire genre of writing. Furthermore, one invention that affected Americans was the colt revolver. It enabled Americans to protect themselves. Lastly, an event that had a major impact at the time of Americans was the Gold Rush. It created the state of California. Poe, the Colt, The Gold Rush are prominent events and figures from the 1800-1870 era that reflect how this time period was game-changing. One of the most game-changing people of the era was Edgar Allen Poe, was best known for his writing style, as well as his recreation of horror. Edgar was born on the 19th of January, 1809 (“Edgar Allen Poe” 1). He came from a rich family and excelled in school until he had been forced to drop out due to gambling debts. After that, Poe had enlisted into the army in the year 1827 He published his first collection of poems and short stories in the same year (“Edgar Allen Poe” 1). He published published his second collection only two years later (“Edgar Allen Poe” 2.1) Poe married a fourteen year...
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...The Gold Rush impacted California by creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, attracting immigrants to the territory and causing the development of cities and towns. The Gold Rush was sparked when gold was found at Sutter’s mill in 1848. Many people from all over the nation and the world soon poured into the area for a chance to become wealthy miners. However, many people found that it was easier to make a living by servicing the miners. Just as much money was in this business as in mining itself. As miners poured into California, businesses and towns would need to be made to help the miners and the local economy of the area. The Gold Rush united a nation that was separated into east and west. Not only did the Gold Rush unite a nation, it...
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...Making its appearance in 1799, The North Carolina Gold Rush was one of the most influential time periods in North Carolina history. Through skilled miners and well sourced mines, the gold rush changed the economic and technology industries in North Carolina. Despite its humble beginnings, the North Carolina Gold Rush will forever be known as one of North Carolina’s greatest victories. The Carolina Gold Rush began when an eleven year old boy named Conrad Reed decided to skip church one Sunday and go fishing. While searching for fish in Little Meadow Creek, Conrad found what he would soon learn to be a seventeen pound gold nugget. Taking his discovery home, Conrad’s father was unsure of his son’s find and used it as a decrotive door stop. Years later, Mr. Reed decided to take the lump of gold to a jeweler in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Mr. John Reed named his price of three dollars and fifty cents for the gold, and the jewelry gladly accepted. Upon returning home, John soon realized that he had been swindled out of a great deal of money. He...
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...Patrice Sterling Dr. Andrews Paper #2 The Colorado Gold Rush began in 1858 and attracted a staggering variety of characters. United by a common desire to find their fortunes in the West, these prospectors faced harsh conditions and often, little reward. Fifty years later, those flocking to Colorado were a very different sort. Entrepreneurs, tycoons, and even European nobility sought out the state’s pristine natural beauty by visiting luxury hotels and by building lavish private residences. Increasingly, Colorado became a destination for those who had already secured their fortunes, rather than a place to start from scratch. Certainly, more modest citizens continued to flow into the new state, but compared with earlier days in the state’s past, Colorado began to attract more people from the luxury set than ever before. I chose two photographs, taken fifty years apart, to exemplify the changing character and reputation of Colorado during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first image I will be analyzing shows a prospector working panning for gold on a river bank in the Colorado mountains near Cripple Creek. It was taken circa 1890 by an unidentified photographer. The man’s clothing is tattered and his beard is unkempt. He crouches in the icy water, staring woefully into his sieve, which presumably contains nothing more valuable than river gravel. On the bank to his left, a well used shovel lies as if tossed aside along with a pick axe. This man is working...
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...Human beings have always been intrigued with gold; dating back to the earliest civilizations and even in today's present world. Gold, in early America, was hard to come by. Most often it had to be imported from eastern countries, which of course wasn’t cheap. American needed to discover native gold; not only to save costs but also to reap the rewards that came with that find and in 1848 that dream became a reality. “James Marshall’s discovery of gold at Coloma turned out to be a seminal event in history, one of those rare moments that divide human existence into before and after” (Brands 23), the author’s message is clear from the very first page, however Brands takes an interesting approach to describe the events of the infamous gold rush....
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...A historical timeline offers people of today a glimpse into the past, providing an insightful way into the future. The foundation of Nevada becoming a place of settlement to ranching communities and vast growing cities can be contributed to many significant events launching in the mid-1800’s. The mining boom, divorce and gaming industry, as well as the railroad expansion from California, are a few noteworthy incidences among many leading to the success of Nevada. The unearthing and discovery of mineral deposits initiated the “gold and mining boom” around 1860. Mining pioneers stumbled upon strange black sand in 1859. The contents of this mysterious silt revealed to contain silver and gold valued over $3,000 a ton. Mineral activity helped to stimulate ranch and farm growth for surrounding valley communities. Mining in Nevada also lead to advanced transport discoveries...
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...The simple and widely-known technique of panning involved the use of a pan in which sand, soil or gravel and water were swirled around and out of the pan and leaving alluvial gold inside the pan. This technique was inefficient thus other more effective tools such as the cradle was developed. The cradle was essentially a large wooden tool where soil was placed into the hopper, a steel mesh separated the gold from debris such as rocks. Water would be added to the hopper and the entire tool would be cradled to wash away soil from the gold. Shaft mining was also introduced as a more complicated method of mining when gold became scarce in shallow depths under the surface. Mine shafts would require the excavation of fifty cubed metres of soil with shafts created with depths of up to fifty metres. A pulley system and a minimum of three workers were required to work on the mine shaft, first miner would shovel soil into a bucket, another would operate the pulley system to transport the buckets to the surface where one or two other miners would use the cradle to separate the gold from the...
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...In January 1848, Alexander James Chapman discovered gold while constructing a Sutter’s mill along the American River northeast of present-day Sacramento. The discovery was reported in the San Francisco newspapers in March however, caused little notice due to the account very few believed. The spark that ignited the gold rush came forth in May 1848 when Baron David, a storekeeper in Sutter's Creek, brandished a bottle filled with gold dust around San Francisco shouting 'Look what I found, Gold! Gold! Gold from American River!' The residents of the city now had proof of the discovery and the stampede to the gold fields was on fire. San Francisco's harbor was soon cluttered with ships deserted by their crews. Thousands were struck by the gold fever the populations of many of the coastal towns were depleted as result of this so-called “sickness.” The travel across the sea After the word of gold spread, Richard a young struggling, Chinese man in the heart of China left his wonderful daughter Sage at the age of four in the care of his beautiful wife Michelle. In hopes of providing a better income towards his loving family he went off on a journey into the unknown with his childhood friend Zhen Yuan. The two men set out on their journey heading to New York City on May 11, 1849 they boarded the steamer Panama along with about 300 fellows risking all on a gamble in California. Aboard Panama Climbing aboard the ships walk way towards the entrance of the streamer which is...
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