Alaskan Natives in the Gold Rush Era

Economic development in Alaska during the Gold Rush era was partially shaped by the Mining Act of 1874, which allowed only two groups of people to stake mining claims: 1) citizens and 2) immigrants of good standing, which typically meant 'white' immigrants. Alaska Natives, who were not considered U.S. citizens, were excluded. The consequences of the Mining Act of 1874 were enormous. Since mining was the primary source of wealth in the territory and Alaska Natives were barred from staking claims, Natives were prevented from the opportunity to accumulate wealth. 

Natives throughout Alaska tried to establish their right to be treated as equals. In Circle City, Rampart, Crooked Creek, and other places, Alaska Natives staked and filed claims following established procedures only to have them taken by whites with the legal justification that Alaskan Natives were not U. S. citizens or immigrants of good standing. During the Klondike Gold Rush, the Chilkoot Tlingit, who had controlled access to the Chilkoot Pass trade route for centuries, tried to tax miners using the trail. The U. S. Army stepped in on the side of the miners, essentially stripping the Tlingit of their property rights. 

Next Page

To navigate through the textbook, click on the next page button or go to the navigation menu on the top left.