|
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
. |
