What Every California School Kid Knows
those who read English… ...or read at all
Prior to 1822—Southern border of Oregon to Northern border of Utah to SE Texas belongs to Spain. The economy in California—*crickets*
1823—Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River.
1822—Mexico rebelled against Spain and enacted its new Constitution October 4, 1824, making Spain’s Territories Mexico’s. This Constitution failed to describe the rights of the states within its republic. California now is a Mexican Territory. The economy in California—*crickets*
1832-33—Texas, unsatisfied with Mexico’ governance held Conventions to demand changes which Stephen Austin carried to Mexico City where he was imprisoned in early 1884 until 1835. The economy in California—*crickets*
1836—on March 2, Texas signed its Declaration of Independence from Mexico becoming the Republic of Texas. Mexico kept fighting.
March 6, 1836—The Battle of the Alamo
April 21, 1836—Texans under Sam Houston routed the Mexican forces of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto winning independence.
1845—US President James Polk makes an agreement with the Republic of Texas to help them expand their borders down to the Rio Grande if they will then become a US territory/state. Polk orders US troops to march south of the Mexican border. “Manifest Destiny” becomes a commonly used phrase.
May 10, 1846—Mexican troops and American troops engage in battle. Stories differ as to who fired the first shot. Later in the year, Congressman Abraham Lincoln states “...the president unnecessarily and unconstitutionally commenced a war with Mexico.” The economy in California—*crickets*
1846-1848—U.S. Army battles Mexico, not just enforcing the new Texas border at the Rio Grande but capturing Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and California; as well as marching as far south as Mexico City. The economy in California—*crickets*
July 4, 1848—Mexico surrenders on U.S. terms. U.S. takes over ownership of New Mexico, California, an expanded Texas, and more, for a payment of $15 million. The Whig Intelligencer remarks: “We take nothing by conquest....Thank God.”
The Treaty of Guadilupe-Hidalgo stated [in part]:
...just sayin’The boundary line established by this article shall be religiously respected by each of the two republics, and no change shall ever be made therein, except by the express and free consent of both nations, lawfully given by the General Government of each, in conformity with its own constitution.
...If unhappily any disagreement should hereafter arise between the Governments of the two republics, whether with respect to the interpretation of any stipulation in this treaty, or with respect to any other particular concerning the political or commercial relations of the two nations, the said Governments, in the name of those nations, do promise to each other that they will endeavour, in the most sincere and earnest manner, to settle the differences so arising, and to preserve the state of peace and friendship in which the two countries are now placing themselves, using, for this end, mutual representations and pacific negotiations. And if, by these means, they should not be enabled to come to an agreement, a resort shall not, on this account, be had to reprisals, aggression, or hostility of any kind, by the one republic against the other, until the Government of that which deems itself aggrieved shall have maturely considered, in the spirit of peace and good neighbourship, whether it would not be better that such difference should be settled by the arbitration of commissioners appointed on each side, or by that of a friendly nation. And should such course be proposed by either party, it shall be acceded to by the other, unless deemed by it altogether incompatible with the nature of the difference, or the circumstances of the case.
Article XXII sets out the rules justincase “which is not to be expected, and which God forbid) war should unhappily break out between the two republics.”
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ok—what’ve we got outta alla that?
From the time Mexico was born, 1822, until the time it lost CA and the other territories—in a war, fair and square—26 years passed. Until California became a state, 28 years passed. In that time, Mexico did exactly nada with CA and her rich resources. So someone ‘splain this to me, m’kay?
foto courtesy of 
Sierrahome
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