When Did California Become a State?

California is one of the most famous states in the country, and a state that is frequently in the news. There’s much to learn about this great state which became part of the United States in 1850.

Spain, and then Mexico were in control of California prior to statehood. In the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United States received control of the California territory from Mexico.

California did not immediately become a state after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed. Rather, California was governed by the United States Military from 1847 to 1849.

In 1849, however, the military ceased being in control of the territory, and a constitutional convention started a civilian government for the territory. As part of the Compromise of 1850, California was admitted into the United States as a state. The other term of the compromise was that slavery would be banned in California. California became a state in 1850.

History of California

Before the Europeans came to California, approximately 100,000 to 700,000 Native Americans inhabited the area. At the end of the eighteenth century, the Spanish Empire began to occupy the region that is considered part of California today (known then as the Alta California).

Francisco de Ulloa was the first individual to explore the west coast of Mexico, and this included the coast of California. He was able to prove that California was in fact, a peninsula. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first explorer to study the California coast, and he was the first explorer to actually set foot in the territory. Other explorers also studied California, such as Sir Francis Drake or Sebastian Vizcaino.

Sir Francis Drake claimed the area for England, after setting foot in it in 1679. Sebestian Vizcaino named the San Diego Bay, and began the first Christian church service that is recorded in the history of California. During this time of exploration in the state, the Spanish sent missionaries over to the territory. The first permanent missionary was called the Mission San Diego de Alcala, and it began in 1769.

While the Spanish were in control of the territory for some time, Mexico then gained control of it in 1821. In this time, Mexico gained control of their country from Spain and gained control of California as well. Thus, California became a state of the First Mexican Empire. Despite Mexico’s hold over the state, it was ruled by appointed governors, and was removed from the power and rule of Mexico.

Mexican American War

In 1864, the Mexican-American War began. The state of California—which had already felt removed from Mexico’s rule—formed its own republic at the beginning of the war. It was called the California Republic. However, California’s independence did not last long.

The United States Navy and the Commodore John D. Sloat sailed into the Monterey Bay of California, and claimed the land for the United States. At the end of the Mexican-American War, the United States still wanted to keep control of California. In the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United States received control of the California territory. In the same year, the gold rush began in California and this sparked a mass exodus to the territory. This was also known as the California Gold Rush.

Naming of California

The name California was derived from a myth about a fictional Utopia that was populated by the Black Amazons. This fictional Utopia was called “Califia.” It is said that Diego de Becerra and Fortun Ximenez, who landed in the south of California, named the land after this myth.

The term California used to refer to a much larger section of the United States then it currently does. The term used to refer to parts of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, and the state of California.