1. SS 3-1: Where were California Settlements?

2. Fort Ross was established north of San Francisco
Fort Ross was built in 1812 by fur trappers from Russia and Alaskan settlers
Built to help Russian trade with Spanish settlers in CA
Became the largest fur-trading post south of Alaska
Fur trapping began after Vitus Bering discovered the Bering Strait and path to resources of the North American continent
Other forts served as military posts
Forts established later served as trading posts

3. Russian Settlements
Mexico came from the south and Russian settlers came from the northwest
1812 Ivan Kuskov led group of Russian and Alaskan fur trappers to San Francisco area
Within 10 years the trappers caught most of the sea otters for fur
Left in early 1840’s because they couldn’t farm the land

4. Many Mexican settlements were located near the coast
1821 Mexico gained independence from Spain and took control of CA
Mexicans moved north to CA for farmland
Missions became Mexican settlements
Mission settlements= good place to live, farm and trade b/c near coast
Original San Diego missions abandoned in 1834
Troops occupied it and surrounding area
The church regained control of SD mission in 1834
Operated as a school for CA Indians from

5. Sutter’s Fort established near Sacramento
1839 Mexican government gave John Sutter a land grant for an area in Sacramento Valley
Center of the colony Sutter established
Where Sacramento and American Rivers met
Sutter sold supplies to travelers
He offered employment
Immigrants and CA Indians
Gold discovered on Sutter property by James Marshall
Marshall was a carpenter
Sutter’s son founded Sacramento in 1848

6. Cause and Effect
Mexico won independence from Spain CA became part of Mexico Mexicans moved north to CA to farm Mexicans built settlements in CA Kuskov led a group of trappers to They built Fort Ross as a trading area north of San Francisco post

7. Open Book Quiz
Answer each question in a paragraph. Restate the question in your answer.
Explain why Mexicans built settlements in CA
Compare and contrast Fort Ross and Sutter’s Fort