Alta California

Quick Facts: Who was Alta California?

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Alta California

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A former Spanish province encompassing modern California, Nevada, and Utah.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Alta California (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌalta kaliˈfoɾnja]; English: Upper California), also known as Nueva California (English: New California) among other names, was a province of New Spain formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of Las Californias, but was made a separate province in 1804 (named Nueva California). Following the Mexican War of Independence, it became a territory of Mexico in April 1822 and was renamed Alta California in 1824. The territory included all of the present-day U.S. states of California, Nevada, and Utah, and parts of Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado. The territory was re-combined with Baja California (as a single departamento) in Mexico's 1836 Siete Leyes (Seven Laws) constitutional reform, granting it more autonomy.

Career & Major Achievements

That change was undone in 1846, but rendered moot by the outcome of the Mexican–American War in 1848, when most of the areas formerly comprising Alta California were ceded to the U.S. in the treaty which ended the war. In 1850, California joined the U.S. as the 31st state. Spanish soldiers, settlers, and missionaries invaded the homelands of the indigenous peoples of California, people of the Great Basin, and the Pueblo peoples in the establishment of Alta California. Evidence of Alta California remains in the numerous Spanish place names of American cities such as Monterey, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Ana, and Santa Rosa. Father Eusebio Kino missionized the Pimería Alta from 1687 until his death in 1711.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1697, a Jesuit expansion into California was funded and the Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó was established that same year. Plans in 1715 by Juan Manuel de Oliván Rebolledo resulted in a 1716 decree for extension of the conquest (of Baja California) which came to nothing. Juan Bautista de Anssa proposed an expedition from Sonora in 1737 and the Council of the Indies planned settlements in 1744, although these plans did not take action. Don Fernando Sánchez Salvador researched the earlier proposals and suggested the area of the Gila and Colorado Rivers as the locale for forts or presidios preventing the French or the English from "occupying Monterey and invading the neighboring coasts of California which are at the mouth of the Carmel River." Alta California was not easily accessible from New Spain: land routes were cut off by deserts and Indigenous peoples who were hostile to invasion. Sea routes ran counter to the southerly currents of the distant northwestern Pacific.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1687: 1687 Milestone — Father Eusebio Kino missionized the Pimería Alta from 1687 until his death in 1711.
2. 1697: 1697 Milestone — In 1697, a Jesuit expansion into California was funded and the Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó was established that same year.
3. 1715: 1715 Milestone — Plans in 1715 by Juan Manuel de Oliván Rebolledo resulted in a 1716 decree for extension of the conquest (of Baja California) which came to nothing.
4. 1737: 1737 Milestone — Juan Bautista de Anssa proposed an expedition from Sonora in 1737 and the Council of the Indies planned settlements in 1744, although these plans did not take action.
5. 1804: 1804 Milestone — Alta California (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌalta kaliˈfoɾnja]; English: Upper California), also known as Nueva California (English: New California) among other names, was a province of New Spain formally established in 1804.
6. 1822: 1822 Milestone — Following the Mexican War of Independence, it became a territory of Mexico in April 1822 and was renamed Alta California in 1824.
7. 1836: 1836 Milestone — The territory was re-combined with Baja California (as a single departamento) in Mexico's 1836 Siete Leyes (Seven Laws) constitutional reform, granting it more autonomy.
8. 1846: 1846 Milestone — That change was undone in 1846, but rendered moot by the outcome of the Mexican–American War in 1848, when most of the areas formerly comprising Alta California were ceded to the U.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Alta California

True or False: “The primary export from Alta California until the mid-19th century was manufactured goods traded with foreign powers.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The primary exports were hides and tallow derived from livestock raised on the vast ranchos.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Alta California