HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA

The Name "California"

The name "California" came from a knightly romance book that was published in 1510. It was about an island paradise near the Indies where beautiful Queen Califia ruled over a country of beautiful black Amazons with lots of pearls and gold. Men were only allowed there one day a year to help perpetuate the race. Cortez's men thought they found the island in 1535, because they found pearls. Later, Francisco de Ulloa found that the island was really a peninsula.

CALIFORNIA HISTORY TIMELINE

1535 California was first explored by the Spanish. in 1535 Hernando Cortes lead an expedition to La Paz and opened a small colony. Origin of the name of the State: The name is believed to have been derived from a book called 'Las Sergas de Esplandian' by Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo which was written in 1510. The book centres around a mythical Spanish island ruled by a queen called 'Califia' - hence the name California 1539 Francisco de Ulloa explores the gulf of California 1542 The Portuguese explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, explores California 1545 The Europeans bring typhus to California and the epidemic kills hundreds of thousands of natives 1579 The great British sailor, Sir Francis Drake, lands north of San Francisco Bay and claims the territory for England but the land is taken by the Spanish 1756 1756 - 1763: The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) due to disputes over land is won by Great Britain. France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba. 1769 Father Junipero Serra founds San Diego De Alcala, the first of 21 missions established by Franciscan priests in California 1775 1775 - 1783: The American Revolution creates the United States of America. The Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies 1776 July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence 1778 July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces 1783 September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain 1812 1812: Russian fur traders establish Fort Ross 1812 1812 - 1815 - The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence 1820 Mexico wins its independence from Spain and becomes California's new ruler.US Trappers, including Jedediah Strong Smith, start trading in the state 1846 The United States invades Mexico from the east starting the Mexican-American War won by the US on July 9, 1846 1848 James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's sawmill in Coloma which starts the Gold Rush 1850 Statehood - The Date that California was admitted to the Union - September 9, 1850. Constitution - California was the 31st State to be admitted to the Union. State Motto - Eureka - motto translated as " I have found it " 1860 The Pony Express starts carrying mail from Missouri to California 1861 1861 - 1865: The American Civil War. In 1859 John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and set in motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. 1865 The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy 1865 1865 December 6: The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery 1898 1898 - 1901: The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines .