answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Originally, native Americans settled in the area known now as California.

The first European to explore the coast as far north as the Russian River was the Portuguese Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho, in 1542, sailing for the Spanish Empire.

Some 37 years later English explorer Francis Drake also explored and claimed an undefined portion of the California coast in 1579.

Spanish traders made unintended visits with the Manila Galleons on their return trips from the Philippines beginning in 1565. Sebastian Vizcaino explored and mapped the coast of California in 1602 for New Spain. Spanish missionaries began setting up 21 California Missions along the coast of what became known as Alta California (Upper California), together with small towns and presidios.

In 1821 the Mexican War of Independence gave Mexico (including California) independence from Spain; for the next 25 years, Alta California remained a remote northern province of the nation of Mexico.

Beginning in the 1820s, trappers and settlers from the U.S. and Canada began to arrive in Northern California, harbingers of the great changes that would later sweep the Mexican territory. These new arrivals used the Siskiyou Trail, California Trail, Oregon Trail and Old Spanish Trail to cross the rugged mountains and harsh deserts surrounding California. In this period, Imperial Russia explored the California coast and established a trading post at Fort Ross.

In 1846 settlers rebelled against Mexican rule during the Bear Flag Revolt. Afterwards, rebels raised the Bear Flag (featuring a bear, a star, a red stripe and the words "California Republic") at Sonoma.

The Republic's first and only president was William B. Ide, who played a pivotal role during the Bear Flag Revolt. His term lasted 22 days and concluded when California was occupied by U.S. forces during the Mexican-American War.

The California Republic was short lived. The same year marked the outbreak of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). When Commodore John D. Sloat of the United States Navy sailed into Monterey Bay and began the military occupation of California by the United States. Northern California capitulated in less than a month to the U.S. forces. After a series of defensive battles in Souther California, the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed by the Califonios on January 13, 1847, securing American control in California.

Following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the war, the region was divided between Mexico and the U.S.; the western territory of Alta California, was to become the U.S. state of California, and Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Utah became U.S. Territories, while the lower region of California, Baja California, remained in the possession of Mexico.

On September 9, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850, California was admitted to the United States as a free state (one in which slavery was prohibited).

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

The US is the owner of California, as the state is a part of the country.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Who owned California?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What percentage of property in California is privately owned?

Approximately 75% of land in California is privately owned, with the remaining 25% consisting of public land owned by the state or federal government.


Who owned California first?

The United States owned California in 1848.


Who owned alta California in 1765?

Spain did.


Who owns the penninsula called Baja California?

Baja California is owned by Mexico.


Is the Courtyard Marriott in Salinas California privately owned or owned by a corporation?

Donald trump owns it


Who owns Sumitomo Bank of California?

Sumitomo Bank of California is owned by Sumitomo Bank


Was Utah and New Mexico and California owned by Mexico?

They were.


Car population of California?

As of January 2014, the number of registered cars in California is 13,223,822. Of these, 224,784 are publicly owned. The rest are privately owned and commercial vehicles such as taxi cabs.


Who makes juicy couture?

the company is now owned by Liz claiborne...it was formerly owned by two individuals in California.


Who owned California before the US claimed it?

MEXICO owend it


Who owns baja the or lower California?

There is one answers to this question... if the peninsula is Baja California, then is owned by Mexico... (THE ANSWER IS MEXICO) if you are not talking about Baja California then I don't not know the answer to that!!!!! SORRY :( :( :( :(


Where was dean Martin's ranch in California?

Above Magalia, California in the northern foothills of the Sierra Mountains. It is now owned by Tom Selleck. While Dean Martin may have owned a ranch in Magalia, the ranch that Dean Martin owned that was bought by Tom Selleck is in Thousand Oaks.