Natural Resources in the US

Precious metals have long held a fascination for human beings, and their history in the United States can reveal quite a bit about us as a nation. Taking a brief look at these metals' role in U.S. history may lend a new perspective on our development as a nation, as well as that nation's relationship with its people.

The first U.S. gold coin was struck in 1787 by goldsmith Ephraim Brasher. The first U.S. gold rush in 1803 was sparked by a discovery at Little Meadow Creek, North Carolina. As every American History student learns John Marshall discovered flakes of this sought after commodity while building a sawmill for John Sutter near Sacramento, California in 1848, triggering the California-Gold-Rush which did a great deal to hasten the settlement of the American West. Over two hundred and fifty thousand settlers and miners by the score made the long, arduous two thousand mile long journey along the California trail in the years following the discovery. Travelers had to endure and overcome lack of food and clean water, extremes of climate, broken down wagons, and exhausted draft animals. Contrary to familiar images from film however the trail, though difficult and dangerous, was generally free from Indian attacks. Two prospectors, while fishing in Klondike, Alaska in 1898 made a discovery that spawned the final U.S. rush of the nineteenth century.

In 1900 The Gold-Standard-Act placed the United States currency officially on this standard. The Federal-Reserve-Act, enacted in 1913, specified that Federal Reserve Notes be backed forty percent in this most precious of metals. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in an effort to alleviate the banking panic in 1933 prohibited private holdings of all such coins, bullion, and certificates. In 1937 the bullion depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky was opened. In 1960 gold-backing of Federal Reserve Notes was eliminated. Americans were forbidden to own this most sought after of precious metals abroad as well as at home in 1961. The Olympic Commemorative Coin Act was passed by Congress in 1982 and included issuing the first legal tender U.S. coin made of this prized metal since 1933. In 1986 the American Eagle Bullion Coin was introduced by the U.S. Mint.

Throughout human history these precious metals have meant money, and money has meant power. When considering such precious metal resources in the United States from a historical perspective it is impossible to ignore the impact of European involvement on the natives of the Americas, areas rich in such materials. The mining of precious metals, conducted largely by means of Native American labor played a major role in the United States' economic development and the expansion of trade with Europe. Natural resources found on land inhabited by American Indians including precious metals, timber, water, and oil, to name a few, were instrumental in the economic, social, and cultural changes that ultimately resulted in the Industrial Revolution.

Settlers, explorers and missionaries from Spain, Russia, England, France, Sweden and the Netherlands greatly influenced Native America during the early 1500's. Many were drawn to this "new world" by the promise of precious metals. Explorers came looking for bullion, bringing with them European values, Christianity, metal tools, firearms, and a dozens of diseases that American Indians had no natural immunity against. The impact caused by the influence of these invading cultures proved to be pandemic. In their frenzy to satisfy their governments' need for more and more money in the form of bullion, Europeans decimated numerous native cultures in the Americas.

In Central and South America jewellery making had a long tradition, having developed five thousand years ago. Among the Aztec the more jewellery a noble wore the higher his status or prestige. Gold jewellery was most common, often embellished with the feathers of various birds. Gold-work also flourished among the Mochica people of Peru. Not simple metalwork, but beautiful, masterful examples of the jeweler's art. Featuring inlays of turquoise, mother of pearl, spondylus shell, and amethyst these pieces are quite sophisticated in their design. When the Spanish attempted to seize South American territories, jewellery played a major role in the fate of the natives. Contrary to popular perception however, Native American silver work jewellery is not an ancient art.

In the 1850's Mexican silversmiths traded with the Navajo for cattle, leading Navajo blacksmiths to learn the art. Later, in the 1870's the Navajo taught silver smithing to the Zuni who introduced the silver work to the Hopi around 1890. Precious metals have had an undeniable impact on the United States politically, socially, and culturally, as well as economically. The course of our history as a nation has been repeatedly influenced by these resources, both for good and ill. In studying this pattern of influence we may find guidance for our future acts and attitudes regarding all our natural resources, most importantly our people.