Within two years after the discovery at Sutter’s Mill, the rush for California gold had achieved worldwide proportions. By 1850 upwards of 5,000 immigrants were arriving each month, some of them overland through the Nevada desert and the passes of the Sierras, but the majority by the less arduous sea...

Continue Reading

Subscribe to Commentary Magazine for unlimited access to this article and our complete 75-year archive.

📚
Complete 75-year archive access
📱
Ad-free reading experience
📖
Monthly print magazine
💎
Exclusive subscriber content

PRINT + DIGITAL (annual)

$ 108 /year
Save 10%
  • ✓ Every article, blog post & podcast, unlocked
  • ✓ Access to all past issues since 1945
  • ✓ Access to our curated iPad app
  • ✓ PDF download of current issue
  • ✓ Monthly print edition delivered to your door
  • ✓ You can cancel anytime

PRINT + DIGITAL (monthly)

$ 9.97 /month
  • ✓ Every article, blog post & podcast, unlocked
  • ✓ Access to all past issues since 1945
  • ✓ Access to our curated iPad app
  • ✓ PDF download of current issue
  • ✓ Monthly print edition delivered to your door
  • ✓ You can cancel anytime

DIGITAL (annual)

$ 86 /year
Save 10%
  • ✓ Everything but the print edition

DIGITAL (monthly)

$ 7.97 /month
  • ✓ Everything but the print edition

Join thousands of readers who trust Commentary Magazine for intelligent analysis and thoughtful discussion.

+ A A -
You may also like
Share via
Copy link