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This chapter explores the intricate history of Mexican California, focusing on the influence of U.S. interests, the social dynamics among Californios, and the impacts of secularization. It delves into land grants, local governance, and the relationships between different ethnic groups, including Natives and Mexican settlers. The legacy of ranch culture, cattle customs, and social hierarchies is examined, revealing the tensions and conflicts that arose during periods of annexation and war. The narrative also addresses the racial divides and cultural adaptations that characterize California’s evolution.
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Chapter 3 MEXICAN CALIFORNIA
MEXICO • U.S. influence? • CA: territory
“californios” • Mixed • Democracy, secular • Isolation • Unique “CA”
Norteños • Vallejo
Sureños • Pío Pico
secularization • Mission lands • Most lands: Californios • 700+ grants
Results? • Natives: • loss • New class • Aristocracy
Land grant • Petition • Land, map • Local official: survey • Final: assembly • Ceremony
GRANTS • Andres, Pio Pico: 89k acres • Women (13%) • Indians
horsemen • Racing • Customs
CATTLE • Life • No cattle, no land • Rodeo • L.A.: semi-annual • Fiestas • Meat • “California dollar”
VAQUEROS • Natives • Missions • Spanish-Mexican • Culture • Spirit
Laws, customs=Spanish Mexican • Mystique = Mexican • Pop culture = American?
Ethnicity • Indios • Ranch • Segregation • “Gente de razon”
Race relations • Paternalism • Conflict • Indio laborers • Debt bondage • Workers, prostitutes
women • Most important: Reproduction • Male possessions • protected, controlled
Mexican ca • Outside trade • Part Mexico • Controlled destiny
mexico • No foreigners! • Texas exp.
Foreigners • Trade • 1830: 100 • “Mexicanized” • Marriage, customs
Abel stearns • “Don” • Land, cattle
j. sutter • 50k acres • Fort
Donner party • 1846 • Cannibalism
u.s. • Late 1700’s: furs • 1840: more interest • ??? • Mexicans: wasteful
1846 • 1300 foreigners • Most illegal • Did not integrate • Mexico forewarned; too late
PRE-WAR • CA: significant • $$$ • Texas (1836)
CALIFORNIOS • Rich: unhappy w/Mex. • Join U.S.? • Non-elites: • Independ. • Culture • Opposed forcible annex.
$$$ • Hides • Harbors
U.S. • Buy Mex.: $3.5, $40 mil. • CA: peaceful annex?
REVOLT • J. Fremont • Sonoma • M. Vallejo • “Republic”
WAR • Controversy • Thoreau • Racial? • All Mex.? • Natives? • L.A.: local resist.
TREATY (1848) • Hidalgo • Rights to Mexicans • Article X? • Spanish, Mexico, U.S.
Californios? • Divided • Racial divide: • Whites • Mestizo • Natives