Early History
The Early Inhabitants
The remains of Arlington Springs Man on Santa Rosa Island are among the earliest known inhabitants in California. These remains dated to the most recent Ice Age about 13,000 years ago. Since then there were series of migration and invasion. During the time of time of first European contacts about a dozen of Native American tribes were living in this state. Notables among them were Cahuilla, Chumash, Miwok and Hupa. The Cahuilla tribe lived near the Mojave desert in a type of reed house called Kish. The Chumash lived along the South-Central California coast. They built house shaped like domes. Most of the Miwok lived near the Sierra Nevada Mountains whereas few of them lived what is now San Francisco. The Hupa tribe occupied Northern California coast ranges all the way upto Oregon.
The European Exploration
From the early 16th century to the mid 18th century, European explorers travelled across Atlantic Ocean to explore North and South America. However, in the first two and half centuries there was no settlement established in California, because the main colonial power Spain focused their attention elsewhere on Mexico and Peru.
In 1542 Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo led an expedition in 2 ships from the west coast of what is now Mexico. He landed on San Diego Bay and Cape San Martin and went on to San Miguel Island, which is one of the Channel Islands. Thereafter, in 1579 English explorer Sir Francis Drake sailed north and found a small bay near San Francisco and named the area Nova Albion. Albion was an older name for England. In 1602 it was the turn of Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino. He ventured along the coastline from present-day San Diego to present-day Monterey. In 1728 Russian explorer Vitas Bering travelled in opposite direction. He came from Russia across the Pacific Ocean and found a water route between Russia and Alaska, which was later named Bering Strait. British seafaring Captain James Cook in his 3rd voyage sailed along the west coast of North America aboard HMS Resolution. Cook wanted to find a water way that connect Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. He failed to find that, but in the process of his exploration, he mapped the coast of North America all the way up to Bering Strait.
Settlements and Colonies
In 1767 Spain sent a soldier named Gasper de Portola to build settlements in California along with 2 missionaries. Father Junipero Serra started the first mission at San Diego at 1769, called San Diego de Alcala. Later on Father Serra along with Portola reached Monterey and built a second mission there. From 1769 and 1821 several Spanish missionaries set up many missions. Their purpose was to help and sometime force California Indians to become Catholic. Though some Indians converted to be Catholic, others fought hard against the mission system. The biggest contribution of California missions was the introduction of European livestocks and agriculture. There was a trail called El Camino Real was built to connect the missions. Spanish government also set up presidios or forts to protect Spanish settlements or Pueblos. In 1820 Mexico won independence from Spain. They started giving land grants to Mexican who were moving to California. Many settlers built ranchos or ranches, which contain animal or agricultural farms. At one time, Russians tried to colonize part of California also. They built a fortified trading post in 1812. But Russians eventually departed in 1841.
By 1848, California became a territory of USA following the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. And, in 1850 California joined the union and became a state. During this time "Gold Rush" brought 300,000 from all over the world to California. Lots of these immigrants and fortune-seekers settled in California and the population of the state increased significantly.
The Early Inhabitants
The remains of Arlington Springs Man on Santa Rosa Island are among the earliest known inhabitants in California. These remains dated to the most recent Ice Age about 13,000 years ago. Since then there were series of migration and invasion. During the time of time of first European contacts about a dozen of Native American tribes were living in this state. Notables among them were Cahuilla, Chumash, Miwok and Hupa. The Cahuilla tribe lived near the Mojave desert in a type of reed house called Kish. The Chumash lived along the South-Central California coast. They built house shaped like domes. Most of the Miwok lived near the Sierra Nevada Mountains whereas few of them lived what is now San Francisco. The Hupa tribe occupied Northern California coast ranges all the way upto Oregon.
The European Exploration
From the early 16th century to the mid 18th century, European explorers travelled across Atlantic Ocean to explore North and South America. However, in the first two and half centuries there was no settlement established in California, because the main colonial power Spain focused their attention elsewhere on Mexico and Peru.
In 1542 Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo led an expedition in 2 ships from the west coast of what is now Mexico. He landed on San Diego Bay and Cape San Martin and went on to San Miguel Island, which is one of the Channel Islands. Thereafter, in 1579 English explorer Sir Francis Drake sailed north and found a small bay near San Francisco and named the area Nova Albion. Albion was an older name for England. In 1602 it was the turn of Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino. He ventured along the coastline from present-day San Diego to present-day Monterey. In 1728 Russian explorer Vitas Bering travelled in opposite direction. He came from Russia across the Pacific Ocean and found a water route between Russia and Alaska, which was later named Bering Strait. British seafaring Captain James Cook in his 3rd voyage sailed along the west coast of North America aboard HMS Resolution. Cook wanted to find a water way that connect Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. He failed to find that, but in the process of his exploration, he mapped the coast of North America all the way up to Bering Strait.
Settlements and Colonies
In 1767 Spain sent a soldier named Gasper de Portola to build settlements in California along with 2 missionaries. Father Junipero Serra started the first mission at San Diego at 1769, called San Diego de Alcala. Later on Father Serra along with Portola reached Monterey and built a second mission there. From 1769 and 1821 several Spanish missionaries set up many missions. Their purpose was to help and sometime force California Indians to become Catholic. Though some Indians converted to be Catholic, others fought hard against the mission system. The biggest contribution of California missions was the introduction of European livestocks and agriculture. There was a trail called El Camino Real was built to connect the missions. Spanish government also set up presidios or forts to protect Spanish settlements or Pueblos. In 1820 Mexico won independence from Spain. They started giving land grants to Mexican who were moving to California. Many settlers built ranchos or ranches, which contain animal or agricultural farms. At one time, Russians tried to colonize part of California also. They built a fortified trading post in 1812. But Russians eventually departed in 1841.
By 1848, California became a territory of USA following the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. And, in 1850 California joined the union and became a state. During this time "Gold Rush" brought 300,000 from all over the world to California. Lots of these immigrants and fortune-seekers settled in California and the population of the state increased significantly.