Mexicans and the Gold Rush, 1848-1855, continued
In 1848 gold was discovered in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and prospectors flooded in from around the world, including between 10,000-20,000 Hispanic miners from Mexico and Chile. The Californios who attempted mining were pushed out–some by violence and lynching. Others were forced to leave when selective taxes were imposed on them, such as the 1850 California Foreign Miners License Law ($20/month). This applied to all Mexican miners, even those who were citizens. Mexicans joined foreign miners in protesting the tax, but were subdued by white militias. Many of the immigrant Hispanic miners took refuge in San Jose. According to historian Stephen Pitti, between 1845-1860 the Spanish-surnamed population of San José increased by 150%.
