THE EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT OF CALIFORNIA

We know things now that the Spaniards didn’t in 1760

And, as students (all of us), we are seekers of knowledge

However, what we seek is scattered in a thousand places

But, then, we have many resources

We gather scattered things to make a coherent whole

Setting the stage--California The early period  ~~40,000 to 340 years BP

Early hominid history N. America and Asia collided ~25 million years BP and B. Strait becomes a sometimes bridge Out of Africa ~~5 million years BP to N.A. ~40,000 BP— maybe several times

The Spanish Period ~ ’s Spanish slowly spread through central and South America Cabrillo explored parts of West coast 1760’s conflict between sects within Spanish Catholic church leads to ascendancy of Franciscan order 1769 Don Gaspar de Portola’ left Alta California to explore northward, find Monterey Bay, and claim all for Spain

Setting the stage—California what was known in 1700 Much of California’s coast had been examined by Spanish ships A grand bay was reported at Monterey – 36.7 o N

Setting the stage navigation technology Latitude could be determined accurately Longitude was a guess

First Part Portola’s orders Take a party of ~200 to San Diego Establish a presidio- a place to garrison solders

First job get to San Diego Set out in early spring Never been done ~~4 months to San Diego; several lost Leave most there to build a presidio and explore northward

North to Monterey 1 Taking Navigator-map maker Two priests A squad of Catalonian solders + officer A scout Proceeded northward mostly along the coast to ‘LA’

In Los Angles ( ) Portola’ Trek— reenactment of the exploration of California Part of California Centennial Celebration

North to Monterey 1 Continuing north along coast to SLO North of 35 o N reports were of a rugged, impassible coast Turned inland not knowing what to expect

North to Monterey 2 They found the Salinas River Valley Totally unknown and unexpected This took them all the way to Monterey With water, easy travel, abundant game

Monterey o N No ship No magnificent harbor

Monterey 2 Portola’ explored further north ~108 days saw the South end of San Francisco Bay from a mountainous area “A bay to hold all the ships of Spain”

The end of Portola’s first exploration After another month of fruitless exploration and illness Began the return to San Diego Route became ‘the Kings Highway’; became the mission route established by Father Junipero Sera; became (almost) highway 101

U.S. mainly involved in the East U.S. and southern coasts The interior of North America was primarily a dry, barren barrier Spain, then Mexico (after the war of independence) was involved only with southern and coastal California – San Francisco was the north-most administrative center

1848 End of the Mexican-American war California ceded to the U.S. as settlement

GOLD! 1848 – discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill on the American River (not first)

California’s early population 1847 – European population ~ 10, – European population ~ 50,000 in the mines; probably total of ~100,000

Ways to the gold fields--1 Ship to San Francisco

The hazards and problems

Ways to the gold fields -- 2 and 3 Overland Oregon Trail To Oregon then south by Shasta or K. Falls Several branches to Immigrant (Donner) Pass Santa Fe Trail Branch to Mojave to Tehachapi Pass Branch to Mojave to Cajon Pass to LA Branch to Blythe and Salton Sea to LA To Yuma to San Diego to LA

The Railroads 1870’s and 80’s Most of the passes used earlier – first was Donner, 1869, directly to Sacramento and San Francisco

Note the affects of Gold Passes Routes across the deserts

Pre WWII California markets and California as a whole not politically important California oil fields began mostly but petroleum not all that important yet; and the Gulf coast oil fields were much closer to the eastern markets

WWII and following Pacific theater of WWII Ship building Aircraft industries Oil for a high technology war Entertainment industries Beginnings of huge population influx High technology