Spain began to colonize California in 1769 by building 21 Catholic Missions in the region. Yerba Buena (San Francisco) was founded by the Spanish missionary, Juan Bautista de Anza, in 1776.
Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821. The following year Spain transferred California to the Mexico. At this time mountain men such as Jedediah Smith, Tom Fitzpatrick, Hugh Glass, Jim Beckwourth, David Jackson, William Sublette and James Bridger began making overland trips to California.
In 1833 Captain Benjamin Bonneville suggested to Joseph Walker that he should take a party of men to California. The beaver appeared to be decline in the Rocky Mountains and it was thought that new trapping opportunities would be found in this unexplored territory. Walker and his party of forty men were the first Americans to explore the Yosemite Valley.
This was followed by the American government expedition to California led by John C. Fremont in 1842. His reports on the fine weather, fertile land and mineral wealth in the region encouraged Americans to make the overland journey to California.
In July, 1845, the United States Army, under the leadership of Zachary Taylor, arrived in Texas. Talks began with the Mexican government but in December, 1845, James Polk, the president of the United States, announced the annexation of Texas. General Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexicans at Palo Alto on 8th May, 1846 while General Winfield Scott organised a campaign that involved a seaborne invasion of Mexico that captured Vera Cruz and a march inland to Mexico City, which was captured on 14th September, 1846. Meanwhile General Stephen Kearny conquered New Mexico and with the support of John Fremont took control of California.
Hostilities were terminated by the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848. Under the terms of the treaty the United States gained the territories of California, New Mexico and Utah. The treaty also established that the Rio Grande River marked the definitive boundary line between the two countries. The capital of California, Yerba Buena, was now renamed as San Francisco.
On 24th January, 1848, James Marshall, discovered gold on land owned by John Sutter in California. Sutter, a German immigrant, had successfully operated a trading post and large ranch at the junction of the American and Sacramento rivers. News soon spread about the discovery and in 1849 over 100,000 people had arrived in search of gold. During the next few years thousands more arrived. The output of gold rose from $5 million in 1848 to $40 million in 1849 and $55 million in 1851.
Stories also circulated about the high quality of the crops that could be grown in California. Potential emigrants were told that wheat "grew as tall as a man, with each stalk sprouting seven kernels", clover was so dense that the "farmer could barely get into the field to harvest it" and turnips were "five feet tall".
Another commentator claimed that: "The motives which thus brought the multitude together were, in fact, almost as various as their features. They agreed in one general object - that of bettering their condition." They were spurred on by the comments of Richard Henry Dana. In his book, Two Years Before the Mast, he claimed that people living in California were lazy. He wrote: "In the hands of an enterprising people, what a country this might be!"
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(1) Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast (1841)
The houses here, as everywhere else in California, are of one story, built of clay made into large bricks, about a foot and a half square and three or four inches thick, and hardened in the sun. These are cemented together by mortar of the same material, and the whole are of a common dirt-color. The floors are generally of earth, the windows grated and without glass; and the doors, which are seldom shut, open directly into the common room; there being no entries. Some of the more wealthy inhabitants have glass to their windows and board floors; and in Monterey nearly all the houses are plastered on the outside. The better houses, too, have red tile upon the roofs. The common ones have two or three rooms which open into each other, and are furnished with a bed or two, a few chairs or table, a looking-glass, a crucifix of some material or other, and small daubs of paintings enclosed in glass, and representing some miracle or martyrdom. They have no chimneys or fire-places in the houses, the climate being such as to make a fire unnecessary; and all their cooking is done in a small cook-house, separated from the house. The Indians do all the hard work, two or three being attached to each house; and the poorest persons are able to keep one, at least, for they have only to feed them and give them a small piece of coarse cloth for a belt, for the males; and a coarse gown, without shoes or stockings, for the females.
(2) William Taylor, California Life Illustrated (1860)
But what contributed still more to revive and promote social life in California was the semi-monthly arrival of families. For a couple of years after the gold discovery but very few of the great mass of California adventurers had any thought of a permanent settlement in that country. They had generally given themselves about two years in which to make their "pile," and return home. They therefore cared nothing about California except for her gold, and hence felt but little responsibility in regard to their conduct or character. Indeed very many had left their character at home, if they had any, as an old Missouri sinner said he left his religion. . . .
After a couple of years' sojourn in California, very many began seriously to contemplate a permanent settlement in that country. They were delighted with the climate, and became deeply interested in the development of the immense resources of the country, agricultural, mineral, and commercial, and in the growing greatness of their young giant state. Then such expressions as these became very common: "If I had my family here I never would leave California; but I can't consent to bring my family to such a place. Everything is inviting, so far as the country, physically, is concerned; but the social and moral condition of the people is so horribly bad, I can't risk the education of my children in such a place." Very many found, too, at the end of their two years, that they had done nearly everything else but "make their pile," and could not bear the mortification of returning without it; but having a fine prospect ahead, they were led at once to say: "Oh if I had my family here, and could settle down and take my time at it, I would make my fortune and live at ease in this most delightful climate in the world; but Oh, the moral and social condition of the country is horrible!" These and similar considerations, together with the fact that some families had been there from the first, and got along pleasantly, wife and children healthful and happy, led men by the hundred to go or send for their families, and make a home in California.
As soon as they made up their minds to settle permanently in the country, their conduct underwent a great change for the better. They began earnestly to manifest interest in the establishment of schools and churches, the regular preaching of the Gospel, the better observance of the Sabbath, and whatever they thought would contribute to improve the social condition of society. Some, who could leave their business, went in person for their families; but many more, not being able to leave without too great a sacrifice of time and money, sent for their families. Single men, also, from similar considerations, came to similar conclusions in regard to permanent settlement.
(3) President James Polk, speech (5th December, 1848)
It was known that mines of the precious metals existed to a considerable extent in California at the time of its acquisition. Recent discoveries render it probable that these mines are more extensive and valuable than was anticipated. The accounts of the abundance of gold in that territory are of such an extraordinary character as would scarcely command belief, were they not corroborated by the authentic reports of officers in the public service, who have visited the mineral district, and derived the facts which they detail from personal observation. Reluctant to credit the reports in general circulation as to the quantity of gold, the officer commanding our forces in California visited the mineral district in July last, for the purpose of obtaining accurate information on the subject. His report to the War Department of the result of his examination, and the facts obtained on the spot, is herewith laid before Congress. When he visited the country, there were about four thousand persons engaged in collecting gold.
There is every reason to believe that the number of persons so employed has since been augmented. The explorations already made warrant the belief that the supply is very large, and that gold is found in various places in extensive districts of country.
Information received from officers of the navy, and other sources, though not so full and minute, confirm the accounts of the commander of our military force in California. It appears also, from these reports that mines of quicksilver are found in the vicinity of the gold region. One of them is now being worked, and is believed to be among the most productive in the world.
The effects produced by the discovery of these rich mineral deposits, and the success which has attended the labours of those who have resorted to them, have produced a surprising change in the state of affairs in California. Labour commands a most exorbitant price, and all other pursuits but that of searching for the precious metals are abandoned. Nearly the whole of the male population of the country have gone to the gold district. Ships arriving on the coast are deserted by their crews, and their voyages suspended for want of sailors. Our commanding officer there entertains apprehensions that soldiers cannot be kept in the public service without a large increase of pay. Desertions in his command have become frequent, and he recommends that those who shall withstand the strong temptations, and remain faithful, should be rewarded.
This abundance of gold, and the all-engrossing pursuit of it, have already caused in California an unprecedented rise in the price of the necessaries of life.
(4) Ulysses S. Grant wrote about the Gold Rush in his Memoirs (1885)
San Francisco at that day was a lively place. Gold, or placer digging as it was called, was at its height. Steamers plied daily between San Francisco and both Stockton and Sacramento. Passengers and gold from the southern mines came by the Stockton boat; from the northern mines by Sacramento. In the evening when these boats arrived, Long Wharf - there was but one wharf in San Francisco in 1852 was alive with people crowding to meet the miners as they came down to sell their “dust” and to “have a time.” Of these some were runners for hotels, boarding houses or restaurants; others belonged to a class of impecunious adventurers, of good manners and good presence, who were ever on the alert to make the acquaintance of people with some ready means, in the hope of being asked to take a meal at a restaurant. Many were young men of good family, good education and gentlemanly instincts. Their parents had been able to support them during their minority, and to give them good educations, but not to maintain them afterwards. From 1849 to 1853 there was a rush of people to the Pacific coast, of the class described, All thought that fortunes were to be picked up, without effort, in the gold fields on the Pacific. Some realized more than their most sanguine expectations; but for one such there were hundreds disappointed, many of whom now fill unknown graves; others died wrecks of their former selves, and many, without a vicious instinct, became criminals and outcasts.
(5) Albert D. Richardson, Beyond the Mississippii (1867)
Fruit trees (in California) are twice as large as in our middle States at the same age. In one year the cherry had grown fourteen feet high; the pear ten feet; and the stem of the peach tree three inches in diameter; the enormous peaches, the rich pears, the strawberries and grapes, which, grow with incredible profusion, have a peculiarly rich and generous taste that lingers lovingly on the palate.
Grapes fresh from the vines are found on California tables from July till December. Fruit at breakfast is one of the most delicious customs of the country. The morning meal begins with grapes, figs, peaches, strawberries, and pears. Of the first, one never tires. I ate grapes statedly at breakfast, luncheon, and dinner, and incidentally at intervals through the day and evening.
In the orchard of Wilson Flint, near Sacramento, I saw hundreds of pear trees, seven years from the graft, bearing sixty pounds of fruit each. Fruits, vegetables, and grain are invariably sold by weight. I noticed a cluster of six pears growing on one twig, almost as close as they could be packed in a fruit dish, and each nearly as large as a man's fist.
In the same orchard hundreds of fig trees bent under rich purple fruit. Olives, pomegranates, lemons, and apricots grow in various sections. The State also contains about twenty-five hundred orange trees. When six or eight years old they produce fruit, and continue bearing for half a century. At fourteen years they yield from one thousand to three thousand oranges per tree. They blossom early in spring; the fruit is ripe the next February, and if left on the branches keeps until May.
(6) John Muir, The Yosemite (1912)
Looking eastward from the summit of the Pacheco Pass one shining morning, a landscape was displayed that after all my wanderings still appears as the most beautiful I have ever beheld. At my feet lay the Great Central Valley of California, level and Howery, like a lake of pure sunshine, forty or fifty miles wide, five hundred miles long, one rich furred garden of yellow Compositce. And from the eastern boundary of this vast golden flower-bed rose the mighty Sierra, miles in height, and so gloriously colored and so radiant, it seemed not clothed with light, but wholly composed of it, like the wall of some celestial city. Along the top and extending a good way down, was a rich pearl-gray belt of snow; below it a belt of blue and dark purple, marking the extension of the forests; and stretching along the base of the range a broad belt of rose-purple; all these colors, from the blue sky to the yellow valley smoothly blending as they do in a rain- bow, making a wall of light ineffably fine. Then it seemed to me that the Sierra should be called, not the Nevada or Snowy Range, but the Range of Light. And after ten years of wandering and wondering in the heart of it, rejoicing in its glorious floods of light, the white beams of the morning streaming through the passes, the noonday radiance on the crystal rocks, the flush of the alpenglow, and the irised spray of countless waterfalls, it still seems above all others the Range of Light.
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