Background Birth of the State of California

California was a Territory of Mexico

US Declared War on Mexico

July 7, 1846 in Monterey Commodore John Sloat Proclaims US Control of All California Read Sloat’s Proclamation

Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna

US-Mexico War

US-Mexican War Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 2, 1848)

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ARTICLE VIII Mexicans now established in territories previously belonging to Mexico, and which remain for the future within the limits of the United States, as defined by the present treaty, shall be free to continue where they now reside, or to remove at any time to the Mexican Republic, retaining the property which they possess in the said territories, or disposing thereof, and removing the proceeds wherever they please, without their being subjected, on this account, to any contribution, tax, or charge whatever. Those who shall prefer to remain in the said territories may either retain the title and rights of Mexican citizens, or acquire those of citizens of the United States. But they shall be under the obligation to make their election within one year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty; and those who shall remain in the said territories after the expiration of that year, without having declared their intention to retain the character of Mexicans, shall be considered to have elected to become citizens of the United States. In the said territories, property of every kind, now belonging to Mexicans not established there, shall be inviolably respected. The present owners, the heirs of these, and all Mexicans who may hereafter acquire said property by contract, shall enjoy with respect to it guarantees equally ample as if the same belonged to citizens of the United States.

ARTICLE IX The Mexicans who, in the territories aforesaid, shall not preserve the character of citizens of the Mexican Republic, conformably with what is stipulated in the preceding article, shall be incorporated into the Union of the United States, and be admitted at the proper time (to be judged of by the Congress of the United States) to the enjoyment of all the rights of citizens of the United States, according to the principles of the Constitution; and in the mean time, shall be maintained and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty and property, and secured in the free exercise of their religion without restriction.

Land Cession from Mexico to US

“The Border”

Border in New Mexico

San Diego Tijuana

Tijuana San Diego

Nogales, Arizona Nogales, Sonora

“The Fence”

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo February 2, 1848 Gold Discovered in California January 24, 1848

California Gold Rush (January 24, 1848)

Estimated Population of California MexicansIndiansWhitesBlacksAsiansTotal 1840s 10,000150,0002,000NA0160, sNA40,00090,0001,000NA130, sNA18,000325,0004,10035,000380,000

1,872 People 4,739 People

Estimated % Hispanics in Monterey County

Monterey, 1850

California Constitutional Convention Colton Hall

California Constitutional Convention Colton Hall 2 nd Floor

More than 350 Pages More than 500 Amendments in 130 Years California Constitution 1849 CA Constitution1872 CA Constitution

Who Wrote the California Constitution? Roster of Delegates to the California Constitutional Convention in 1849

Debates at the California Constitutional Convention In the File Cabinet on our course web site, there is a link to this report.

Which Civil Rights Shall People Have in California? Read the debate on Rights at the California Constitutional Convention

Civil Rights California ConstitutionCalifornia Constitution 1849

Who will be allowed to Vote in California? Read the debate on Voting Rights at the California Constitutional Convention

Voting Rights California ConstitutionCalifornia Constitution 1849