“WE DIDN’T CROSS THE BORDER, THE BORDER CROSSED US”
After 300 years of colonization, Mexico became independent, inheriting Alta California. Weak from wars and colonization, they lost all northern territories to the advancing, aggressive United States. The large map created for the exhibit by Alvaro Solorio, summarizes these first two periods, including the native populations (in our central valley the Yokut and Miwok), the coastal missions, presidios and pueblos, and the transitions of Spanish and Mexican governors ruling from Monterey. The short Mexican period of only 26 years and a turnover of seven governors begins and ends with war—Mexico’s war with Spain for independence, war on the frontera with hostile natives, then with the new United States over their territory in the Southwest.
Mexico, inspired by revolution after three centuries of colonization, threw off Spanish rule in 1822, but was only able to hold on to Alta California itself for 26 years. The key dates compare what was going on in the other side of the North American continent, the American Revolution in 1776 and Mexico’s in 1828 after 10 years of fighting. The Spanish after 300 years didn’t get to Alta California until finally in 1769, and the valley until 1772. After 300 years of colonization, much of the population was mestizo (mixed). Now Nueva España was México, and still in the north, Alta California, La Frontera.
The native population adopted or adapted, learned to use and steal horses and cattle and how to strategically fight the invaders. The Mexican soldiers were more militant than the Spaniards had been, and the Valley turned into resistance and warfare. Leaders like Yokut Chief Estanislao and Mexican General Mariano Vallejo led their followers until one was defeated and the other made statesman and hero, until over half of the indigenous population left was decimated and a river was name Calaveras where explorers found the riverbank littered with skeletons, calaveras.
KEY TERMS
Land Grants. The new country of Mexico, weakened and needing to hold on to the territories in California began by disbanding the mission system, sending those natives to fend for themselves, many back to the interior to join a growing resistance. To hold on to the land, the government created large land grants, over 48,000 acres for large cattle ranches to secure the loyalty and support of their generals and friends. Most of the more desirable grants were along the coast, in all of California about 800, but only five significant grants in our Central Valley. The map of the land grants highlights these. Two of special interest are the Castro grant in Northeastern Fresno up to Friant and the Pacheco grant at the entrance to the valley from the East. With a hostile and chaotic period during the Mexican American War and native uprisings, most grants were eventually lost, if not during this period, then during the next one under the aggressive Americans.
Mexican American War 1846-1848: “Manifest Destiny,” the young American nation’s aggressive desire for land and new beginnings, spread across the continent to the Pacific. Building up to the inevitable war for land were offers to purchase it and a resentment from Mexico’s loss of Texas in 1836. The Westward expansion of the emboldened United States won all or parts of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and California. President Polk took the US to war with Mexico in 1846 and California was caught up in divided loyalties to Mexico and a somewhat attractive U.S. Many considered themselves “Californios,” not so much independent, but a “best of both” mentality. They too were swept up in the battle for control of California. The Yankee pioneers’ attitude for land and new beginnings met the reality that about 800 families owned all of California and the Mexican government had negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to guarantee citizenship and land ownership to its former citizens. That counted for little when the new state was overwhelmed and overrun with those Yankees and the nascent laws couldn’t protect against cheating and squatting. The border became central to Caminos’ immigrant story.