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History in a Nutshell: The California Gold Rush

14 minutes, 40 seconds

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The date of January 24, 1848 started out as a typical work day for carpenter James W. Marshall, who was tasked with constructing a water-powered sawmill in Coloma, California. While digging a channel, Marshall looked down and noticed shiny metallic flakes in the water below him. What Marshall discovered would trigger one of the largest single movements of human beings in world history. Part of the "History in a Nutshell" series.

Media Details

Runtime: 14 minutes, 40 seconds

ASL
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 1
12 minutes 41 seconds
Grade Level: 7 - 12
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 5
6 minutes 8 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 4
7 minutes 44 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 3
8 minutes
Grade Level: 4 - 8
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 2
7 minutes 47 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 7
14 minutes 40 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 6
7 minutes 30 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 11
8 minutes 42 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 12
8 minutes 28 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
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History in a Nutshell
Episode 13
10 minutes 21 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8

Viewer Comments

  • Tiny default profile photo
    Angela B. (Elkhart, IN)
    August 22nd, 2025 at 10:13 AM

    If your district is using 7th grade Amplify ELA, this video pairs very well with the Gold Rush unit. The second half of the video talks about the legacy of the Gold Rush which gave my students some great ideas for the essay prompt in the unit. We used the side-by-side with ASL interpreting and it was easy and engaging to follow along with the video.