arvau

Wikipedia / Territorial evolution of California

The following timeline traces the territorial evolution of California, the thirty-first state admitted to the United States of America, including the process of removing Indigenous Peoples from their native lands, or restricting them to reservations.

TimelineFlag icons are shown each time a new national claim was made, or a new national flag was raised over California.

Indigenous & territorial claims prior to 1768

Broad early European edicts and treaties that unknowingly included the land that would later become California

Early European claims on California soil

Spanish period (1768–1821)

Hermenegildo Sal Expedition 1796 Explores San Joaquin Valley around the current Stockton area

Spanish missions in California, 1769–1833

Friar Francisco Dumetz Expedition 1810, Discovers San Bernardino Valley.

Fort Ross established by the Russian-American Company, 1812–1842

Mexican War of Independence, 1808–1821

Mexican period (1821–1848)

Alta California Province transferred to Mexico after Treaty of Córdoba, 1821–1824

First Mexican Republic, 1824–1835

Centralist Republic of Mexico, 1835–1846

Second Federal Republic of Mexico, 1846–1848

Mexican–American War, 1846–1848

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed February 2, 1848

American period (1848–present)

Alta California administered by the United States as part of the Mexican Cession unorganized territory, 1848–1850

State of California since 1850

Act for the Government and Protection of Indians, April 22, 1850

Aboriginal title in California, 1851–present

California-Nevada border disputes, 1856–1980

California Constitutional boundaries

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA (1849)

Article XII; Boundary

The Boundary of the State of California shall be as follows: Commencing at this point of intersection of 42d degree of north latitude with the 120th degree of longitude west from Greenwich, and running south on the line of said 120th degree of west longitude until it intersects the 39th degree of north latitude; thence running in a straight line in a south easterly direction to the River Colorado, at a point where it intersects the 35th degree of north latitude; thence down the middle of the channel of said river, to the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, as established by the Treaty of May 30th, 1848; thence running west and along said boundary line to the Pacific Ocean, and extending therein three English miles; thence running in a northwesterly direction, and following the direction of the Pacific Coast to the 42d degree of north latitude, thence on the line of said 42d degree of north latitude to the place of beginning. Also all the islands, harbors, and bays, along adjacent to the Pacific Coast.

See also

History of California

Territorial evolution of North America since 1763

Laws of the Indies

References

Footnotes

Citations

State of California website