1. Joaquin Murrieta created by Ezequiel Zuniga
The Mexican Robin Hood

2. The Life of Joaquin Murrieta
Joaquin was born in 1829 in Sonoma Mexico
He lived during the time when California became part of the United States
During that time he felt that many Mexicans had unfairly lost their lands, so he fought for justice.
He encountered discrimination and he and his wife were brutally attacked.
Joaquin used the legal system to seek justice but that failed.
As a result he began to take justice into his own hands.

3. Bandit or a Mexican patriot ?
Murrieta fought for resistance against Anglo-American domination in California.
He fought rich land owners and gave what he took to the poor and less fortunate.
Murrieta started a gang called “The Five Joaquins” they turned to a life of crime and became bandits to some and heroes to others.

4. The gang was credited with stealing more than $100,000 in gold, cattle and over 100 horses
On May 11, 1853, Governor of California John Bigler signed a legislative act creating the "California State RangersOn May 11, 1853, Governor of California John Bigler signed a legislative act creating the "California State Rangers," led by Captain Harry Love, whose mission was to arrest the Five Joaquins. The California Rangers were paid $150 a month and stood a chance to split a $5000 reward for the capture of Murrieta.

5. On July 25On July 25, 1853, a group of these rangers killed Joaquin Murrieta
The death of Joaquin Murrieta was hard on the people of California because their hero had been killed.
Joaquin Murrieta later became more popular in death because the people spoke of him as a hero who fought for justice.
Murrieta became immortalized in stories and the character of El Zorro is loosely based on his life.