Alta California

Alta California, also called Nueva California, was a region that was part of New Spain and later Mexico. It was created in 1804 when the area known as Las Californias was split into two parts: Alta California and Baja California. After Mexico won its independence from Spain, Alta California became a Mexican territory in 1822 and was renamed in 1824.

Today, Alta California covers the area that is now the U.S. state of California, plus the states of Nevada and Utah, and parts of Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado. In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, most of Alta California became part of the United States, and in 1850, California joined the U.S. as a state.

When Spanish people arrived, they met many groups of local people who already lived there. Many cities in the area still have Spanish names today, like Monterey, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, reminding us of this history.

History

Plans for colonization (1697–1769)

See also: Portolá expedition

Father Eusebio Kino worked with people in Pimería Alta from 1687 until he passed away in 1711. In 1697, a plan began to expand into California, and the Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó was created that same year. Other plans were made, but they did not happen.

Don Fernando Sánchez Salvador looked at these older plans and suggested placing forts near the Gila and Colorado Rivers to protect the area around Monterey and the coasts near the Carmel River. Alta California was hard to reach from New Spain because of deserts and people who were not friendly. Sea travel was also difficult because of strong currents. Spain did not have enough money or people to settle this far north.

Spain became more interested in Alta California when reports of Russian colonization and maritime fur trading in Alaska reached them, as well as a naval expedition led by Pyotr Krenitsyn and Mikhail Levashov in 1768.

Spanish colonization (1769–1821)

Further information: Spanish missions in California and Ranchos of California

The Portolá expedition was the first group of Europeans to travel through the area that is now California. They met many local people who became part of the new Jesuit and Franciscan missions. The first settlement was at the Presidio of San Diego, set up at a village called Kosa'aay.

The first mission, Mission San Diego de Alcalá, was created in 1769 by Junípero Serra and Gaspar de Portolá. More missions and settlements were built near where local people lived. Over time, as settlers took more land and changed the way people lived, some local people resisted. Life at the missions was very hard for many, and some people ran away to find safety elsewhere.

Before the Spanish came, about 340,000 people lived in California. From 1769 to 1832, many people were baptized and many died at the missions.

Establishment of ranchos

In 1784, the Spanish created the first rancho, Rancho San Pedro, a big area for raising cattle. More ranchos were created later. The Spanish and Mexican governments gave land to soldiers who retired. These ranches became important for raising cattle and sheep. The work on these ranches was mostly done by local people.

By law, the land and property from the missions were supposed to go to the local people after ten years. But the leaders in charge kept control of the missions even after Mexico became independent from Spain. The land was never given to the local people.

As more Spanish settlers arrived, there were disputes over land between the missions and the new settlers.

Province of Alta California

In 1804, the area known as Las Californias was split into two parts: Alta (upper) California and Baja (lower) California. This change happened because of growth in the north.

In 1819, a treaty between the United States and Spain set the northern border of Alta California at latitude 42°N, which is still the border today. Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821, and Alta California became a territory of Mexico the next year.

Independent Mexico (1821–1846)

Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821 and took control of Alta California. Alta California sent a representative to Mexico City. In 1824, with a new government, Alta California was called a "territory" because it did not have enough people to be a state.

Secularization of the missions (1833)

Some people were unhappy with governors sent from Mexico City because they did not understand local problems. In 1833, Mexico made a law to change how the missions worked, which caused more problems. In 1836, Mexico changed its government, but this did not much affect Alta California.

In 1836, a local leader named Juan Bautista Alvarado led a group that took control from a governor sent from Mexico. After some time, Alvarado agreed to support a new constitution and became governor himself. Other local leaders became governors after him.

Early American interest in Alta California

Mexican–American War (1846–1848)

Main article: Mexican–American War

In the late 1840s, American and European settlers began to arrive in Alta California. In 1846, after Texas joined the United States, some American settlers in Northern California declared independence as the California Republic. Soon after, the United States and Mexico went to war. United States Navy forces took control of cities like Monterey and San Francisco. The people of the California Republic decided to help the United States forces.

United States forces continued to take control of Alta California. After battles, the local leaders agreed to stop fighting in 1847. In 1848, with a treaty, California became part of the United States. The United States paid Mexico for the land.

Governors

Main article: List of governors of California before 1850

This section lists the leaders who governed Alta California before the year 1850. The leaders changed over time as the region moved from being part of New Spain to becoming part of Mexico. The full list can be found in the main article linked above.

Pueblos

Three important towns, called pueblos, were officially recognized by the government. These towns were:

• Pueblo de la Reina de Los Ángeles (now Los Angeles)
• Pueblo de Branciforte (now Santa Cruz)
• Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe (now San Jose)

Historic population figures

Population statistics of Alta California Province

The table shows population numbers for the area that was once Alta California. This area includes places like California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Regions (1850 census)

In popular culture

In the 1800s, there was a newspaper in San Francisco called The Daily Alta California. Famous writer Mark Twain wrote some of his first popular stories for this newspaper in his book The Innocents Abroad.

A movie from 1998 called The Mask of Zorro featured a character who wanted to create his own country in the area that was once Alta California. There is also a fun comic book called Donald Duck in Old California! by Carl Barks that shows what life was like for people called the Californios.