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1542
First European to Visit California
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to enter California. Cabrillo and his men entered into the San Diego area and named the area Alta California. -
Period: 1542 to
European Arrival
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1579
Sir Francis Drake Arrives in California
English explorer Sir Francis Drake arrived on the coast of San Francisco and claimed the area. He also interacted with the Native coastal people of that area. -
First California Mission Founded by Father Junipero Serra
Franciscan missionaries arrived in California and Father Junipero Serra founded the first mission in San Diego called San Diego de Alcala. -
Period: to
Spanish Missions
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Native American Attack on Mission San Diego de Alcala
Around 800 Kumeyaay people attacked Mission San Diego De Alcala. The Kumeyaay destroyed the mission out of retaliation for harsh treatment by Spanish missionaries and soldiers. -
Toypurina Revolt at San Gabriel
Toypurina was a woman of the Tongva nation, and she led a rebellion against the Spanish who had infiltrated her people’s land to build the San Gabriel mission. It was a revolt against the harsh treatment of the Spanish. -
Measles Epidemic
This was the most destructive epidemic in the mission period as it wiped out a majority of the Native American population in California. -
Mission Fathers in California Directed to Perform an Interrogatory
The Viceroyalty of New Spain directed the mission Fathers to survey and report the people that lived in the missions which would lead to evidence of religious syncretism in the mission systems. -
Spanish Constitution
The constitution granted Indigenous and colonial-born subjects full citizenship. -
Plan for Secularization
With the development of the Spanish constitution, Spain plans to secularize all religious institutions of colonial power. -
San Rafael Hospital Asistencia
San Rafael was urgently established as an asistencia due the declining health of Native Americans from disease and poor living conditions. 2,000 sick Native Americans were sent to San Rafael from San Francisco. -
Mexico Gains Independence
After many years of fighting for independence, the Mexican government takes over the California government from the Spanish empire and seeks secularization. -
Augustin Fernandez Travels to California Proclaiming Freedom of Natives
Augustin Fernandez travels to California to announce the emancipation of Native people and that Natives could no longer be punished by mission Fathers. This made the Native people look forward to freedom from the Spanish missionaries. -
Chumash Revolt
The Chumash Revolt/War was the biggest organized Native American revolt in the mission period. Thousands of Chumash retaliated against the Spanish and Mexican Army, and they revolted at three missions: Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, and La Purisima. The Chumash population greatly declined after the revolt. -
Mexico Determines Land Grant process
Mexico passes laws determining how the mission lands would be redistributed and limit influence from Catholic Church. -
Estanislao Revolt
Estanislao was an indigenous leader and warrior who led a revolt at the San Jose mission which destabilized Mexican power -
California Missions Begin Secularization Process
The missions began the secularization process and the mission land would be divided and distributed. Native Americans would leave the missions and most would become servants on ranchos. -
Period: to
Mexican Rule
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John Sutter Arrives in California
John Sutter arrives and begins building Sutter's Fort on the Sacramento River. -
U.S. Preemption Act
This law allowed for Americans to squat on unused land if the land was not properly surveyed or documented. This caused many American families to move to California and squat, take over, and buy out many of the ranchos. -
Mexican-American War
With the desire to expand west, President James. K. Polk declared war on Mexico which led to Mexico losing control of their territory in California. -
Bear Flag Revolt
American settlers in Sonoma, California revolted against the Mexican government with a mission to make California an independent republic. Soldiers surrounded the home of Mexican General Vallejo, which ended in his imprisonment and the raising of the bear flag as a declaration of California becoming an independent republic. California would be an independent republic for a short amount of time, as the U.S. military would come to claim California as U.S. territory. -
Treaty of Cahuenga
This treaty would end the war in California and stop the fighting between Californios and the U.S. -
Gold is Discovered
James Marshall was building a sawmill and discovered gold at Sutter's Fort. -
California Becomes a U.S. Territory
The U.S and Mexico signed a treaty which ended the Mexican American War and officially granted California as U.S. territory. -
Sam Brannan Spreads News About Gold
Sam Brannan spreads information in San Francisco about the discovery of gold. This caused people to flock to the gold areas in search for the resource. -
Period: to
Gold Rush
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State of the Union Address About Gold in California
President James Polk made an official announcement declaring the discovery of gold in California. This caused many people to migrate to California from all over the U.S and the world. They would become know as the "49er's." -
California Becomes a State
On September 9th, of 1850 California became the 31st state in the U.S. -
1850 Act for the Government and Protection of Indians
This law passed by California legislature allowed Native American adults and children to become indentured servants. This caused caused over 10,000 Native Americans to be enslaved and generations loss due to separation of Native children from their parents. -
1850 Foreign Miner's Tax
California legislature passed a tax on non U.S. citizen miners. This tax was targeted at Mexican and other non-white miners. -
1852 Foreigner Miners Tax
After the first Foreigner Miner's Tax was repealed, the state passed a second Foreigner Miner's Tax that was targeted at Chinese miners. -
Period: to
Early California Statehood
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Pacific Railway Acts 1862 and 1864
These act provided federal support and authorization for the construction of the transcontinental railroad. -
Transcontinental Railroad Completed
The last spike would connect the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad which would allow for travel from the west to east coast. The Central Pacific Railroad was built primarily by Chinese workers, and would allow for California to grow into an agricultural and economic powerhouse. -
Los Angeles Massacre
This was a racial massacre that took place in Los Angeles targeted against Chinese immigrants. Many Chinese immigrants were violently attacked and 19 died on that day. -
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by Congress to limit the immigration of Chinese laborers primarily in California. The law prohibited Chinese immigration into the U.S. to protect employment for citizens. -
The Wright Act of 1887
California legislature passes the Wright Act of 1887 which allows farming regions to form large irrigation districts and systems which helped boost agriculture in the state. -
Period: to
Progressive Period
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Los Angeles vs Huntington in Fight Over Free Harbor
US Senator Stephen White fought against the Santa Monica long wharf to be the primary Los Angeles Port. He was successful and gained funds for making San Pedro the area for the Los Angeles Port. -
First Parts of Los Angeles Port Finished (1905-1907)
The Los Angeles Port would become the busiest port in the U.S., giving more economic power to California. The port would be referred to as “America's Port.” -
Graft Trials
Public criminal investigation in San Francisco of city officials, political leaders and Spring Valley Water Company for corruption. -
Progressives Capture State Government (1910-1911)
Progressive Republicans enact their progressive agenda in the California legislature. -
Special Elections
The special elections allowed for women to be able to vote in California. -
1913 Alien Land Act
California passed an “Alien Land Act '' that prohibited non-citizens to own agricultural land. This law targeted Japanese American farmers. -
Home Teacher Act
Progressives were sent to immigrant homes to instill American values and ideals into immigrant families. This would be the first legal act to push “Americanizing” immigrants. -
Child Labor Ban
California passes a child labor ban that prevents children under the age of 14 from working anywhere except their homes or in agriculture. -
Second Alien Land Act Passed
California passes a second Alien Land Act which prohibits children from owning land and prevents short term land leases to immigrants. This law was a direct target at immigrants. -
1924 Immigration Act
The 1924 Immigration Act was a federal law that prevented immigration from Asian and European countries into the U.S. -
1930’s Dust Bowl Migration
The Dust Bowl caused over 200,000 people to migrate to California which affected employment availability in the state. -
Period: to
Great Depression/WWII
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Japanese Internment
President Roosevelt ordered the removal and relocation of people of Japanese descent form the West Coast. Around 120,000 Japanese Americans would be removed from their homes and forced into the internment camps. -
Mendez vs. Westminister
This court case arose out of a lawsuit from the Mendez family due to discrimination and denial into white schools. This major court case resulted in the ending of segregation in California schools. -
Period: to
Post War/Modern Era
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California Fair Employment Practices Act
This act prohibits labor unions and employers from discriminating against workers based on race, nationality ethnicity, etc. -
State Water Project
The California state water project would greatly improve the state's water infrastructure which would allow for suburban growth throughout California and provide a majority of the state's drinking water. -
Donahoe Act 1960-1975
This act allows for a master plan of higher education in California. The act consisted of a three tiered system for public education and also composed a system of California State Colleges. -
Hart-Cellar Immigration Act
This act prevent discrimination and eliminated barriers for immigrants entering the country. -
Watts Riots
The Watts Riots took place in Los Angeles out of retaliation for the arrest of Marquette Frye, and out of anger for mistreatment by Los Angeles Police department and overall racial injustices in the community. There were thousands hurt and arrested in the riots and 34 people died. -
Delano Grape Boycott Led By Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez led a five year long labor strike which led to the passing of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975. -
National Chicano Moratorium
This anti-war demonstration would take place in East Los Angeles and would become one the largest Mexican American anti-war movements against the Vietnam War. -
Rodney King Riots
The Rodney King Riots were a response to the violent beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers. The Los Angeles riots would last several days and result in thousands injured and 63 deaths. -
California Proposition 187
California Proposition 187 (Save Our State) was passed and restricted immigrants and non-citizens to access to government resources and public services. -
First Black Lives Matter Demonstration in LA
The first Black Lives Matter demonstration in Los Angeles would take place in response to the death of Trayvon Martin. This movement would gain traction and inspire many Americans to fight against racial injustices.