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Conflict and Competition: The Klondike Gold Rush (Grades 7-9)
To the Students | To the Teacher | Selected Resources | Download Activity PDF
Introduction
In 1896, gold was discovered at Rabbit Creek, in what would later become
the Yukon Territory. Rabbit Creek was re-named Bonanza Creek as a result.
Though gold miners had already been extracting gold for a number of
years, and a slow and steady stream of miners began finding gold along
various points of the Yukon River, the Bonanza strike was the catalyst
for the Klondike Gold Rush.
How was gold discovered at Rabbit Creek? Prospector Robert Henderson
suggested to George Carmack, another prospector, that he come over to
Gold Bottom Creek where he was panning, and try his luck. Carmack was
encouraged to take a short cut up Rabbit Creek and hike over the divide.
Carmack, along with companions Skookum Jim and Dawson Charlie, took
Henderson up on his invitation. With no luck on Gold Bottom Creek, Jim
and the others hiked back over the divide to Rabbit Creek, where something
shiny caught his eye. To his amazement, he saw, in the creek, several
large, shiny, gold nuggets!
This activity examines the far-reaching consequences of this discovery.
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