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California has been inhabited for thousands of years. When Europeans first arrived there were a number of Native American tribes in the area including the Chumash, Mohave, Yuma, Pomo, and Maidu. These tribes spoke a number of different languages. They were often separated by geography such as mountain ranges and desserts. As a result, they had different cultures and languages from the Native Americans to the east. They were mostly peaceful people who hunted, fished, and gathered nuts and fruit for food.
Golden Gate Bridge by John Sullivan
Europeans Arrive
A Spanish ship captained by Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first to visit California in 1542. Several years later, in 1579, English Explorer Sir Francis Drake landed on the coast near San Francisco and claimed the land for England. However, the land was far away from Europe and European settlement didn't really begin for another 200 years.
Spanish Missions
In 1769, the Spanish began to build missions in California. They built 21 missions along the coast in an effort to convert the Native Americans to Catholicism. They also built forts called presidios and small towns called pueblos. One of the presidios to the south became the city of San Diego while a mission built to the north would later become the city of Los Angeles.
Part of Mexico
When Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, California became a province of the country of Mexico. Under Mexican rule, large cattle ranches and farms called ranchos were settled in the region. Also, people began to move into the area to trap and trade in beaver furs.
Yosemite Valley by John Sullivan
The Bear Republic
By the 1840s, many settlers were moving to California from the east. They arrived using the Oregon Trail and the California Trail. Soon these settlers began to rebel against Mexican rule. In 1846, settlers led by John Fremont revolted against the Mexican government and declared their own independent country called the Bear Flag Republic.
Becoming a State
The Bear Republic didn't last long. That same year, in 1846, the United States and Mexico went to war in the Mexican-American War. When the war ended in 1848, California became a territory of the United States. Two years later, on September 9, 1850, California was admitted into the Union as the 31st state.
Gold Rush
In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in California. This started one of the largest gold rushes in history. Tens of thousands of treasure hunters moved to California to strike it rich. Between 1848 and 1855, over 300,000 people moved to California. The state would never be the same.
Agriculture
Even after the gold rush ended, people continued to migrate west to California. In 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad made traveling west much easier. California became a major farming state with plenty of land in the Central Valley for growing all sorts of crops including apricots, almonds, tomatoes, and grapes.
Hollywood
In the early 1900s, many major motion picture companies set up shop in Hollywood, a small town just outside of Los Angeles. Hollywood was a great location for filming because it was close to several settings including the beach, the mountains, and the desert. Also, the weather was generally good, allowing for outdoor filming year round. Soon Hollywood became the center of the filmmaking industry in the United States.
Los Angeles by John Sullivan
Timeline
1542 - Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is the first European to visit the coast of California.
1579 - Sir Francis Drake lands on the coast of California and claims it for Great Britain.
1769 - The Spanish begin to build missions. They build 21 total missions along the coast.
1781 - The city of Los Angeles is established.
1821 - California becomes part of the country of Mexico.
1840s - Settlers begin to arrive from the east on the Oregon Trail and the California Trail.
1846 - California declares its independence from Mexico.
1848 - The United States gains control of California after the Mexican-American war.
1848 - Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill. The Gold Rush begins.
1850 - California is admitted to the Union as the 31st state.
1854 - Sacramento becomes the state capital. It is named the permanent capital in 1879.
1869 - The First Transcontinental Railroad is completed connecting San Francisco with the east coast.
1890 - Yosemite National Park is established.
1906 - A huge earthquake destroys much of San Francisco.
1937 - The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is opened for traffic.