During the gold rush, what action is Governor James Douglas known for?

• A. He built a railway
• B. He built a university
• C. He negotiated with the US for trade
• D. He issued licenses to miners and created a police force

Answer: (D)

During the gold rush era in British Columbia, maintaining order and organizing the mining activity were crucial challenges. James Douglas responded by issuing licenses to miners and creating a police force to enforce rules, regulate mining, and keep camps orderly. This established a structured approach to governance in the rush, ensured government revenue from licensing, and reduced lawlessness in the camps. Building a railway or a university would come later in BC’s development, and negotiating with the US for trade wasn’t the defining action associated with his role during the gold rush, making licensing miners and forming a police force the best-fit answer.