Page 11 - Exploration10LLR

American Era

The Mexican-American War began on May 13, 1846 with a declaration of war by the United States of
America. Action in California began with the Bear Flag Revolt on June 15, 1846. On July 7, 1846, US forces
took possession of Monterey, the capital of California, and terminated the authority and jurisdiction of
Mexican officials that day. Armed resistance ended in California with the Treaty of Cahuenga signed on Notes:
January 13, 1847. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the war, was signed February 2, 1848 and ________________________
California became a Territory of the United States. Between 1847 and 1849, California was run by the U.S. ________________________
military. A constitutional convention met in Monterey in September 1849, and set up a state government. It
operated for 10 months before California was admitted to the Union as the 31st State by the United States ________________________
Congress, as part of the Compromise of 1850, enacted on September 9, 1850.
________________________

California Gold Rush ________________________
While the end of the 1840s saw the close of Mexican control over Alta California, this period also marked
the beginning of the rancheros’ greatest prosperity. Cattle had been raised primarily for their hides and for ________________________
the tallow, as there was no market for large quantities of beef. This dramatically changed with the onset of ________________________
the California Gold Rush, as thousands of miners and other fortune seekers flooded into northern California.
These newcomers needed meat, and cattle prices soared with demand. The rancheros enjoyed the halcyon ________________________
days of Hispanic California.
________________________
Land Claims ________________________

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo provided that the Mexican land grants would be honored. In order to
investigate and confirm titles in California, American officials acquired the provincial records of the Spanish ________________________
and Mexican governments in Monterey.
________________________
The new state's leaders soon discovered that the Mexican government had given several grants just before
the Americans gained control. The Mexican governors had rewarded faithful supporters, and hoped to
prevent the new immigrants from gaining control of the land. Sponsored by California Senator William M.
Gwin, in 1851 Congress passed "An Act to Ascertain and Settle Private Land Claims in the State of California".
The Act required all holders of Spanish and Mexican land grants to present their titles for confirmation
before the Board of California Land Commissioners.[10] Contrary to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, this

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