California History

In the pre-Columbian era, more than seventy distinct groups of Native America inhabited California. This makes it a diverse region both culturally & linguistically. The civilizations that prospered on the coastal areas lived on sea mammals, salmons, and shellfish. On the other hand, those that settled in the inner regions gathered nuts, berries & acorns for food. Different tribes, such as the Chumash, Pomo & Salinan prospered here. Gradually social & economic relationships formed between them because of inter-community marriages, trade relations & military alliances.

Even though many explorers paid unintended visits to this part of the world, it was Sebastian Vizcaino who explored & drew the map of California for New Spain in 1602. It was in Alta California that Spanish missionaries set up twenty-one California missions besides other small towns & presidios. In fact, the first mission was set up in San Diego in 1769. During the twenty-five years when Alta California was a remote province of Mexico, cattle breeding emerged as one of the dominant professions in Mexican California.

The Californian Republic lasted only for a period of twenty-five days & its first & only president was William B. Ide. The Mexican-American War from 1846-1848 resulted with the United States taking over California.