Mexican Era

Mexican Era 1822 – 1846

1822: Alta California Becomes Territory of Mexico

Mexico gains independence from Spain and claims the territory of Alta California
Alta California was comprised of present day California, Nevada, Utah, along with parts of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico
Only major populated areas in California are in the southern and central coastal parts of the state: San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterrey, Sonoma, Yerba Buena (San Francisco)
Mexico lifts the Spanish trading ban so that any country can participate in trade. This leads to a surge in trade, commercial ventures, and settlement.
Mexico promotes migration to Alta California to populate the ′wild and empty frontier′
The Alta Californio population celebrates the freedom from being subjects to the King of Spain

The ban on US and other foreigners from entering Alta California is lifted.
US citizens can now enter Alta California without legal jeopardy or forced extraction.

Mexico does not have the resources, like Spain had, to defend its territory

1820′s – 1840′s: California Popularized in the US as Land of Opportunity

Enterprising American merchants and traders start to appear in Alta California after Mexican independence in 1821
They write glowing letters about California being a golden land of opportunity to friends in the US. The letters are frequently published in newspapers
This propaganda lured farmers in the 1830′s who were faced with low prices for their crops and high debts
Author and statesman Horace Greeley urges young men and the unemployed to seek life in the developing west
A harsh winter occurred in 1836-1837 that spurred many to plan on migration
Books such as Two Years Before the Mast and reports from several explorers supplement the glowing newspaper articles
A steadily increasing overland migration of farmers sparks a growth of American settlers in Alta California

Trade and commercial enterprise in San Pedro Bay flourish during this period
1822: Andrew McCulloch and William Hartnell sign a trading contract with the Missions, centered on hide and tallow
1823: They build an adobe warehouse on the bluffs overlooking San Pedro Bay on property that would later be part of Fort MacArthur
1828: San Gabriel Mission took ownership of the adobe
1834: Abel Stearns acquired the adobe warehouse and began developing a trade business
Stearns renamed the trading house to Casa de San Pedro. From that time onward the area was dubbed San Pedro.
1840: Stearns built a road from the bluff to the harbor

1834: Richard Henry Dana Arrives at San Pedro Bay

Dana sailed on the Pilgrim from Boston bound for California
Despite being from a wealthy family and travel to Europe like his contemporaries, Dana enlisted as a merchant seaman heading for the adventure of California
Dana travels to several California locations including San Pedro on each pass
He works preparing hides for trade and loading them on ships, normally they throw the hides off cliffs then have a short row to the ship
Dana writes that San Pedro is universally called the ″hell of California which seemed designed for the wear and tear of sailors″

The ship anchors over a mile off shore due to the marshlands and mud flats, the sailors row into shore to a desolate place with no town, no trees

Then they have to carry the hides down a cliff like hill and row back to the ship
San Pedro normally furnished more hides than any of the other California locations making for more work for the sailors
Dana indicated there were vast grasslands to the north filled with cattle
To get back to Boston faster, Dana travels back on the Alert
1840: Dana publishes Two Years Before the Mast which popularizes the California coastline as a land of opportunity
Dana later graduates from Harvard and becomes a maritime lawyer advocating the rights of the merchant seamen

1846: US Conquest of California, Siege of Los Angeles

1846 – 1848: Mexican-American War, US involved in war against Mexico after it annexed the Republic of Texas. It took almost 3 months for word of the war to reach Monterey, the capital of Alta California.
June 14: Sonoma, Bear Flag Revolt. 33 American settlers seized control of the Mexican government outpost in Sonoma in a peaceful revolt. They declared California an independent republic and raised a homemade flag with a star and a figure of a bear. The flag design was later adapted into the current California state flag.
June 23: Captain John C Fremont, leader of a survey party in the Oregon Territory, arrived in Sonoma with 30 soldiers and 30 scouts to occupy and declare Sonoma a US territory
July 7: US Commodore John Sloat of the Pacific Squadron captured Monterey, the Alta California capital, peacefully. Blockades were implemented on all major California ports — Monterey, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
July 9: Commodore Sloat landed at Clark′s Point, in San Francisco Bay and captured Yerba Buena (San Francisco) without a fight
Commodore Robert Stockton, who replaced the retiring Sloat, assumed command of the newly formed California Battalion
July 29: Lt. Colonel John C. Fremont landed in San Diego and peacefully took possession of that town
August 13: Commodore Stockton and Fremont landed at San Pedro with 360 troops, entered Pueblo de Los Angeles, the largest city in California with a population of 3000, and captured it unopposed
Stockton left Major Archibald Gillespie in charge of Los Angeles with a small force of 50
Gillespie placed the town under martial law which greatly angered the Californios
September 23: The Siege of Los Angeles — 200 Californios, under the leadership of Jose Maria Flores, revolted and forced the US army to retreat to Fort Hill
September 30: Gillespie surrendered and returned to San Pedro

1846: Battle of Dominguez Rancho, Battle of Rio San Gabriel, Battle of La Mesa

October 6: Captain William Mervine lands in San Pedro with 350 sailors and marines to join Gillespie for a counterattack on Los Angeles
October 8: Mervine and Gillespie′s force encountered the Californios led by General Jose Flores at Dominguez Ranch.
The US forces were repulsed when the Californios wielded a ceremonial cannon that caused havoc amongst the US forces. Flores′ firing of the cannon from various locations in conjunction with guerilla tactics and musket fire forced the US troops to retreat back to San Pedro within an hour.
Four of the seriously wounded later died and were buried on a small island in San Pedro Bay, Island of the Dead or Isla de la Muertos. Their bones were later discovered when the island was involved in the development of the breakwater.
January 5: Battle of Rio San Gabriel — Commodore Stockton arrived back in San Pedro with reinforcements and moved north with an army of 800. They were joined by forces under General Stephen Kearney whose US Cavalry had journeyed from New Mexico. The ensuing battle occurred in a large area which now encompasses Whittier, Pico Rivera, and Montabello. General Flores′ forces were defeated and retreated back toward Los Angeles.
January 10: Battle of La Mesa — The US Army followed the Californio forces to what is now modern day Vernon where the two forces engaged in battle. Flores′ troops were soundly defeated. The forces under Stockton and Kearney entered Los Angeles with no resistance on Jan 10.
January 13: Treaty of Cahuenga between Colonel John C Fremont and Californio General Andres Pico signed near what is today the north side of the Cahuenga Pass. The treaty was not recognized by the US or Mexican governments, nor by the ranking US officers in the area, Stockton or Kearney. However, it was soon accepted. Pico ultimately became a California State Assemblyman and State Senator representing Los Angeles.
Fighting of the Mexican-American War ceased in Alta California
February 2, 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in Mexico City, ends the Mexican-American War
Alta California becomes a territory of the US

1848: California Gold Rush

The Gold Rush in Northern California creates a new market for cattle from Rancho San Pedro
Prior to 1848 California cattle were commercially valuable for hides and tallow only
Price for beef, at $4 per head, was traditionally lower and so it was consumed locally rather than sold
The California Gold Rush caused a huge influx of miners (300,000) into Northern California by land and sea
California was formally under control of a military governor, Colonel Richard Mason, with only about 600 troops. Many of these troops deserted for the gold fields.
Demand for beef skyrocketed, price for beef soared to as high as $75 per head
Cattle drives north up the coast to San Francisco, or inland to the San Joaquin Valley became common practice
The cattle drives usually started after the winter rains when grass was prevalent
The drives moved at about 10-15 miles per day with the entire drive taking 1 month
Prior to 1848: Price per head = $4
1849: Cattle prices rose to as high as $75 per head for about 6 years
1855: Gold Rush ends
1856: Price per head dropped to $16 - $18
1860: Price per head dropped to $10