1. THE EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT OF CALIFORNIA

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

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

4. However, what we seek is scattered in a thousand places

5. But, then, we have many resources

6. We gather scattered things to make a coherent whole

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

8. 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

9. The Spanish Period ~1500-1700’s Spanish slowly spread through central and South America 1542-3 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

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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’

15. In Los Angles (1769 -- 1948) Portola’ Trek— reenactment of the exploration of California--1948 Part of California Centennial Celebration

16. 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

17. 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

18. Monterey 1 36.7 o N No ship No magnificent harbor

19. 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”

20. 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

21. 1769-1847 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

22. 1848 End of the Mexican-American war California ceded to the U.S. as settlement

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

24. California’s early population 1847 – European population ~ 10,000 1850 – European population ~ 50,000 in the mines; probably total of ~100,000

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

26. The hazards and problems

27. 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

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

30. Note the affects of Gold Passes Routes across the deserts

31. Pre WWII California markets and California as a whole not politically important California oil fields began mostly 1900-1920 but petroleum not all that important--------yet; and the Gulf coast oil fields were much closer to the eastern markets

32. 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