1848
California Gold Rush and Indigenous Massacres
Following the discovery of gold in 1848, hundreds of thousands of settlers flooded California, leading to systematic massacres of Indigenous peoples. State-sponsored militias and private vigilantes killed tens of thousands of Native Americans, with government funds allocated to support these campaigns. This …
Various locations across California, CA
Indigenous
Racial violence
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Following the discovery of gold in 1848, hundreds of thousands of settlers flooded California, leading to systematic massacres of Indigenous peoples. State-sponsored militias and private vigilantes killed tens of thousands of Native Americans, with government funds allocated to support these campaigns. This period represents one of the most devastating episodes of racial violence against Indigenous communities in U.S. history.