Early California:Early California:

Historical OverviewHistorical Overview

Native American California Native American California

Before Before Europeans Europeans arrived, the arrived, the land we call land we call California California was was inhabited by inhabited by about about 300,000 300,000 Native Native Americans, Americans, who livedwho livedin tribal in tribal groupsgroups..

Always a Land of DiversityAlways a Land of Diversity

California has a greater variety of California has a greater variety of geographical regions, landforms, and geographical regions, landforms, and climates than any area of comparable climates than any area of comparable size in what is now the United States. size in what is now the United States.

As a result, an extraordinary cultural As a result, an extraordinary cultural diversity prevailed among the Native diversity prevailed among the Native American peoples of California. American peoples of California.

Housing, dress, means of transportation Housing, dress, means of transportation varied from one region to another.varied from one region to another.

What did first Californians eat?What did first Californians eat?

Most lived by hunting and gathering.Most lived by hunting and gathering. The staple food throughout much of The staple food throughout much of

California was the acorn, a nutritious California was the acorn, a nutritious food source that has a higher caloric food source that has a higher caloric content than wheat. content than wheat.

Large game--including deer, Large game--including deer, antelope, elk, sheep, and bear--were antelope, elk, sheep, and bear--were present over more than half of the present over more than half of the state. Fish were abundant in the state. Fish were abundant in the many streams and rivers.many streams and rivers.

Junípero Serra Junípero Serra arrived in arrived in 17691769and founded and founded California's California's first nine first nine missions. He missions. He served as served as father-father-president of president of the missions.the missions.

Europeans Europeans first came first came to California to California from the from the south.south.Juan Juan Cabrillo and Cabrillo and his crew his crew sailed into sailed into San Diego San Diego Bay on Bay on Sept. 28, Sept. 28, 1542.1542.

PresidiosPresidios

Spanish officials established four presidios, or Spanish officials established four presidios, or military forts, along the California coast.military forts, along the California coast.

If an Indian revolt or attack occurred at a If an Indian revolt or attack occurred at a mission, the soldiers from one of the nearby mission, the soldiers from one of the nearby presidios could be rapidly deployed to assist.presidios could be rapidly deployed to assist.

Several presidios were located near entrances Several presidios were located near entrances to the best ports, at locations where they to the best ports, at locations where they could defend the harbors against foreign could defend the harbors against foreign attack. attack.

Like the missions, the presidios also were Like the missions, the presidios also were placed in areas where supplies of fresh water placed in areas where supplies of fresh water were available.were available.

Mexican Era in CaliforniaMexican Era in California

Mexican independence from Mexican independence from Spain was achieved in 1821, Spain was achieved in 1821, following a long, bloody following a long, bloody struggle.struggle.

The Spanish missions lost their The Spanish missions lost their lands.lands.

For the first time, land was For the first time, land was actually granted to actually granted to individuals.individuals.

A “diseño” or hand-drawn A “diseño” or hand-drawn topographical map was part topographical map was part of the land grant procedure.of the land grant procedure.

Mexican administrators Mexican administrators created huge cattle ranches created huge cattle ranches or ranchos. A few wealthy or ranchos. A few wealthy land-owning families land-owning families emerged as an elite.emerged as an elite.

California Joins U.S.California Joins U.S.The Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 broke out in the wake of the annexation, by the United States, of the Republic of Texas in 1845.Mexico considered Texas to be a breakaway province, whose independence it did not recognize. Following the war, California was ceded to the U.S.

California GoldRushCalifornia GoldRush

News of the News of the discovery of discovery of gold in gold in California in California in 1848 attracted 1848 attracted hundreds of hundreds of thousands of thousands of gold-seekers gold-seekers from across the from across the U.S. and around U.S. and around the world. Their the world. Their arrival arrival transformed transformed California’s California’s economic, economic, social, cultural, social, cultural, and political and political history.history.

Modern CaliforniaModern CaliforniaHow many How many city names city names do you see do you see that were that were derived derived from the from the names of names of Spanish Spanish missions? missions?

Where are Where are these cities these cities located?located?

What natural forces What natural forces threatened missions?threatened missions?