1. How California Became California
California’s
Origins

2. Over 13,000 years ago: People from
Welcome, to “California’s Origins.” Over 13,000 years ago, nomadic people migrated from Asia to North America over the Bering Straight. These people became the Native Americans of both South America and North America.
About 4,000 years ago, the Native Americans began to settle into villages and tribes. California was full of many different tribes who spoke over 100 different languages. The Tongva, or Gabrielino, were the tribe living in the Los Angeles area, including Catalina Island.
Over 13,000 years ago: People from
Asia migrate to
the Americas.

3. Hernando Cortés Founds
Then, in the 1500’s, the conquistadors, or conquerors, of Spain came to the Americas looking for gold and other riches. Hernando Cortés conquered the Aztecs in 1515, and he called the area of modern-day Mexico New Spain. Cortés then went on to explore Baja California in 1535.
1535
Hernando Cortés Founds
New Spain

4. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Explores
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European explorer to visit Alta, or upper, California, landing in the San Diego Bay in In 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno mapped the coast of Alta California as far north as Monterey Bay.
However, Alta California was very far from the heart of New Spain, or Mexico. Spain lost interest in in that remote region, ignoring that land for over 160 years. Until…
1542
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Explores
Alta California

5. Gaspar de Portolá Builds Presidios
In the 1700s, the Russians started to explore Alta California and set up fur trading posts. Spain did not like this. 1769, the King of Spain ordered the soldier, Gaspar de Portolá, to lead an expedition from Baja California to Alta California.
1769
Gaspar de Portolá Builds Presidios
and Settlements

6. Junípero Serra Builds the first Missions
Portolá traveled with the Franciscan priest, Padre Junípero Serra. Serra hoped to bring Christianity to the Native Americans. Together, these two explorers started the official colonization of Alta California, building presidios and missions from San Diego to San Francisco. So, while the 13 American colonies were waging a rebellion against England on the east coast of this great land, the Spanish were settling the western coast. Let us now hear from Junipero Serra himself. (Serra enters and performs his monologue.)
1769
Junípero Serra Builds the first Missions

7. 1785 Toypurina Leads Rebellion of the San Gabriel Mission
Many Native Americans did not appreciate the changes that came along with colonization, particularly one Tongva Medicine Woman named Toypurina. Toypurnia planned a rebellion against the San Gabriel Mission. However, someone betrayed them, and the mission was prepared with extra soldiers. The rebellion failed. Toypurnia avoided execution by converting to Christianity.
1785
Toypurina Leads
Rebellion of the
San Gabriel Mission

8. 1835 Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island is Rescued
European arrival in the Americas dramatically changed the lives of the Native Americans. In the early 1800’s, Russian Fur Traders also had an impact. In 1835, a Native American Village ….
(Enter Chief Chowig to perform his monologue.)
1835
Lone Woman of
San Nicolas Island
is Rescued

9. Mexico Wins Independence From Spain
Alta California underwent many changes during the 1800’s. In 1821, the people of New Spain, or Mexico, started a revolution against Spain. In 1821, Mexico won its independence.
1821
Mexico Wins Independence From Spain

10. President Vicente Ramón Guerrero Abolishes Slavery in Mexico
In 1829, President Vicente Ramón Guerrero, the second Mexican president, abolished slavery in Mexico. His emancipation proclamation freed the Native Americans from forced labor conditions in the missions. The proclamation also included freedom for African slaves and their descendants.
1829
President Vicente Ramón Guerrero Abolishes Slavery in Mexico

11. Rancho Period Starts with Government Land Grants
Between the 1820’s and 1840’s, Alta California entered into the Rancho Period where Dons and Donas owned large tracts of land through a land grant system. Initially, the government of New Spain granted land to important soldiers. After the Mexican War of Independence, the government of Mexico granted land to prominent people who could afford to buy it. One prominent Ranchero was Pio Pico. (Pico enters and performs his monologue.)
1820’s-1840’s
Rancho Period Starts with Government Land Grants

12. Bostonian Ships Traded Alta California, Mexico
During the Rancho Period of Mexico, the people of the United States wanted to sell their factory goods to the people of Alta California. In…
(Enter Dana who has a brief scene with Pico. Then, Dana performs his monologue.)
1830’s and 1840’s
Bostonian Ships Traded Alta California, Mexico

13. Fur Trappers and Trailblazers from the United States Arrive
Not all Americans traveled to Alta California, Mexico, by sea. Many traveled by land. The leaders in this westward land migration were the fur trappers like Jedediah Strong Smith and James Beckwourth. These trappers were trailblazers, literally mapping out land routes starting in Missouri and extending west toward the Rocky Mountains of Colorado continuing west over the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Jedediah Strong Smith was the first to arrive in Alta California…
(Enter Smith to perform his monologue. Then, Beckwourth will enter to perform a scene with Smith. Finally, Beckwourth will perform his monologue.)
1820’s -1840’s
Fur Trappers and Trailblazers from the United States Arrive

14. 1820’s -1840’s Pioneers in Wagon Trains Arrive
Simultaneously, other people from the United States came to settle in Alta California. They were called pioneers, and they traveled in cloth-covered wagons pulled by oxen and horses. The new settlers and the original settlers of Alta California started to feel like their land was unique, different from the rest of Mexico. They called themselves Californios.
1820’s -1840’s
Pioneers in
Wagon Trains
Arrive

15. Gains Popularity in the United States
Between 1800 and the 1840s, the population of the United States grew from 5 million people to 23 million people. Americans looked with longing toward Mexico’s state of Alta California; they wanted that space; they wanted those Pacific Ocean ports. Many people felt that United States should include the west coast, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. This was called “Manifest Destiny.”
1840’s
“Manifest Destiny”
Gains Popularity in the United States

16. U.S. President Polk offers to buy Alta California
In 1845, U.S. President Polk offered to buy Alta California, Arizona, and New Mexico from Mexico for forty million dollars. Mexico refused to sell. The Californios had mixed feelings about Mexican rule. The Mexican government didn’t pay its soldiers, so there was a lot of crime in Alta California. Maybe the U.S. government could bring control and safety.
1845
U.S. President Polk offers to buy Alta California

17. John C. Fremont Tries to Start a Rebellion
In 1846, John C. Fremont, an explorer and Major in the United States Army, wanted to start a rebellion between the Californios and Mexico. He spread an untrue rumor that the Mexican military was going to force American settlers back to the United States. The Californios who were U.S. citizens got worried; they didn’t want to leave Alta California.
1846
John C. Fremont Tries to Start a Rebellion

18. Californios Rebel. They start the California Republic.
Later that year, the Californios rebelled against Mexico. They called themselves the Osos, or Bears. Their new republic, the Bear Republic, lasted only a few months. It ended with the arrival of U.S. troops in Monterey Bay. Why were U.S. troops in Alta California?
June 1846:
Californios Rebel. They start the California Republic.

19. U.S. and Mexico Sign the Treaty of Hidalgo
Unbeknown to the Californios, the U.S. was already at war with Mexico! Mexico and the U.S. disagreed about the border between Mexico and Texas. The U.S. sent soldiers over Mexico’s idea of the border, and, in return, Mexico attacked those soldiers. Consequently, the U.S. declared war. In the end, the United States won the war, and the U.S. got to take California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming! The U.S. paid…. Fifteen million dollars, twenty-five million dollars less than the United States’ original offer!
1848
U.S. and Mexico Sign the Treaty of Hidalgo

20. Gold is Discovered at Sutter’s Mill! Many Americans Migrate.
Just in time (for the U.S.)! In 1849, James Marshall, an employee at John Sutter’s sawmill near Sacramento found a gold nugget. That event sparked The Gold Rush, and a massive migration from the east to the west began. About 90,000 miners flocked to California between 1849 and 1850; they were called the 49ers. Most of the 49ers were men, but many were women. Nearly 1,000 of these miners were African Americans; some were free, and some who were slaves mining for gold to earn their freedom. (Enter Sutter to perform his monologue. Then, Sutter and Coffey will perform their scene. Finally, Coffey will perform his monologue.)
1849
Gold is Discovered at Sutter’s Mill! Many Americans Migrate.

21. Votes to Make California a State
The people of California wanted to become a state. In 1850, the U.S. allowed California to join the union as a free state, a state in which slavery would not be allowed.
1850
U.S. Congress
Votes to Make California a State

22. John C. Fremont Tries to Start a Rebellion
John C. Fremont became one of the first Senators to represent California in the United States Congress. Later on, he….
(Enter Fremont to perform his monologue.)
1846
John C. Fremont Tries to Start a Rebellion

23. Votes to Make California a State
To conclude, these are the origins of our great state of California. Over the next 166 years, California continued to grow as a place where many cultures and languages thrived. California also grew to become an agricultural and industrial giant. Today, if California were its own country, then it would have the 8th largest economy in the world! It is a place one can feel proud to call home.
1850
U.S. Congress
Votes to Make California a State

24. “California, Here I Come”
I hope you enjoyed this presentation of “California’s Origins.” Thank you for coming.
Now, we would like to invite you to pan for gold as we listen to Ray Charles singing “California, Here I Come.”
Thank you.
“California, Here I Come”