Fur Traders and Gold Seekers of the Americas: 1800's

The North American Fur Trade was the acquisition and sale of animal furs in North America. Before the arrival of Europeans and other Americans, the Native Americans traded among themselves, but began trading with the newcomers when they arrived. The Indians traded pelts of small animals such as mink, for knives and other iron products and textiles. At first, the trade was haphazard, and it was not until the 16th century, when the wearing of beaver hats became fashionable in Europe. High quality pelts were only available when winters were severe, so the trad took place mainly in the region known as Canada. California Gold was discovered on March the 9th 1842, at Rancho San Francisco in the mountains of present-day Los Angeles, by a Californian Native named Francisco Lopez. Searching for stray horses, Lopez stopped on the bank of a small creek, and while his horse grazed Lopez dug up some wild onions and found a small gold nugget. The find was not kept secret, and by 1847 those who became known as the 'Forty-niners' streamed into the country in their search for gold.