Review of

Pre-European contact to

Statehood

California State University Monterey BaySBS 385 Environmental History of California

Fall 2014Dr. John Cusick

1510-1848 chronology excerpted from California: A History (Starr 2005)

Physical Geography

Mt Shasta Modoc Plateau

Cascades Sierra Nevada

Coast Ranges Central Valley

Lake Tahoe Mono Lake

San Francisco Bay Monterey Bay

Sacramento River San Joaquin River

Big Sur Salinas River

Transverse Ranges

Owens Valley Death Valley

Mojave Desert Colorado River

Oregon Nevada Arizona

Salton Sea Baja California

Lithosphere

Geologic history and plate tectonics

Direction of Pacific Ocean currents

Atmosphere

Climate and weather patterns

Cool wet winters

Hot dry summers

Hydrosphere

California watersheds

Major rivers include

Sacramento

San Joaquin

Salinas

Colorado

Biosphere

Temperate rain forest in NW

Continental mountains

Coastal mountains

Great Basin

High and low elevation deserts

Mediterranean

Grasslands

Native Americans in California

Indigenous people for thousands of years

Territories often related to bioregions and watersheds

Linguistic diversity

Hunters, gatherers, fishers, agriculturalists

European contact leads to:

expansion of church and state

pursuit of wealth

genocide of indigenous people by violence and disease

slave trade with Africa

global expeditions and trade

redistribution of species for commerce and by accident

1510 California described by Spanish author Montalvo as a Terrestrial

Paradise

1602 Vizcaino explores California coast

1578-1580 Sir Francis Drake sails the ship Golden Hinde around the

world and establishes British interests in the Americas and

Asia

Spanish exploration of California

Links California coast to Mexico and New Spain

Globalization in the 16th century

Spanish and Portuguese global empires link Europe, Atlantic Ocean, the Americas, Pacific

Ocean, and Asia

1769 Sacred Expedition organizers

Church (mission)

Franciscan priest Father Junipero Serra

State (pueblo)

Inspector General Galvez

Military (presidio)

Captain Portola

18th century colonization of

Alta California by the Spanish

El Camino Real (The Royal Road) connects a system of 21 missions one day’s journey apart from one

another

1774 Captain de Anza trail links California to Mexico by land

1800 North America

1803 Louisiana Purchase from the French doubles the size of the United

States

1803-05 President Jefferson organizes the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery

Early 19th century North America

United States

Indian Territories

Spanish Territories

Oregon Country claims by Great Britain and Russia

1822-31 Jedediah Smith

Mountain man and fur trapper

Links California to United States by land

American expeditions into the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest prepare

the way for a policy of Manifest Destiny and a nation from “sea to

shining sea”

1821 Spanish Empire collapses

and Mexico gains Independence

1824 California becomes a Mexican Territory

1834 Secularization of California missions leads to their abandonment and disrepair

1822-1846 Mexican Government Land Grants to Californios dominate the

economy and define Mexican California

1840s Americanization of the West

1846 Bear Flag Revolt by Californios and Anglos

1848 Treaty of Hidalgo cedes California to the United States

1848 Gold discovered in Sierra Nevada foothills

1850 California admitted as 31st state of the United States of

America