Weekly Trinity journal (Weaverville, Calif.), November 14, 1857. 1857. Newspaper. Library of Congress Chronicling America. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn85025202/1857-11-14/ed-1/.
California holds a vast historical tapestry of stories that make up its history. One contribution to its rich history and value to the United States includes a little-known group of soldiers, the Mormon Battalion, whose contributions continue to inform the understanding of diversity in the Golden State. Knowing this story and others not familiar to much of the population deepens our appreciation for the world we live in. Students will study this historical group, research unique stories in their own history, and create a visual representation celebrating underrepresented groups impacting California’s identity.
The Gold Rush precipitated California becoming the 31st state of the Union, prominently promoted by President Polk who broadcast the discovery of gold, sparking an expansion of the United States with millions migrating westward. Aiding the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill was the contribution of a number of Mormons, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on helping discover the gold, spreading the word, and aiding gold rushers on their way to California. The Weekly Trinity Journal, along with the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation and digital-desert blog, shed more light on the involvement and impact the Mormon Battalion had on the Westward expansion to California.
Source: https://californiapioneer.com/historic-events/mormon-battalion-2/; https://digital-desert.com/blog/the-mormon-battalion/
- How does the Weekly Trinity Journal (page 4) describe the significant historical event of discovering gold in California?
- What does this newspaper article attribute to the Mormon Battalion and its involvement in the discovery of gold?
- In what ways does the Weekly Trinity Journal broaden our historical knowledge of the discovery of gold and provide a more informed understanding and depth of appreciation of California history?
ELA Standard
CCSS: 6-8th Grade Reading: Literacy in History/Social Studies
RH.6–8.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
Social Studies Standard
6-8 Historical Interpretation
5. Students recognize that interpretations of history are subject to change as new information is uncovered.
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
- Provide students with primary and secondary sources made available in this lesson.
- Ask guiding questions:
- What is history? Why does history matter?
- Who were the Mormon Battalion soldiers?
- Why did they march, and what was their route?
- What hardships did they face?
- What contributions did they make to California?
- Students create a one-page summary with a timeline and key facts or turn it into a digital slideshow.
- What value do stories bring to history?
- What story that you know about, if shared with others, would provide a more informed understanding and depth of appreciation of your history?
- Instruct students to find and share a lesser-known historical story from their own community, family, or heritage.
- Prompt: What’s a story from your family or culture that isn’t in the textbooks?
- Students interview a family or community member, or students research a lesser-known local or ancestral historical figure or group.
- Present as a short story, poster, digital slideshow, or mini-podcast.
- Help students visualize and celebrate diverse contributions to California’s identity.
- Each student designs a “quilt square” (paper or digital) representing an underrepresented story—the Mormon Battalion or a personal/family/community history.
- Quilt squares should include a short caption or paragraph explaining the story.
- Combine these into a class display titled “The Tapestry of California History.”
Richmond palladium (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]), October 27, 1846. 1846. Newspaper. Library of Congress Chronicling America. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86058217/1846-10-27/ed-1/seq-2/.