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UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Statehood, the Gold Rush, and Americanization 1847-1869
Statehood, the Gold Rush, and Americanization 1847-1869
The Gold Rush brought massive changes to all of California that continue to affect the lives of Californians today. For residents of the Southland, the Gold Rush ushered in sweeping changes to the economy and ethnic makeup of the region.
Major Events
Major Events
1847 - Treat of Cahuenga
1848 - Gold Discovered
1849 - Gold Rush Begins
1850 - California Becomes a State
1869 - Rail Connects Los Angeles to the rest of the United States
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush brings changes.
The value of Cattle rises dramatically because there is a market for beef. Prior to the arrival of many thousands of Argonauts, cattle were valued for their hides and tallow - the two least perishable goods that could be exported to far-off eastern markets.
The increase in the price of cattle makes land far more valuable than it had been before the Gold Rush.
The Gold Rush also generates a lot of money. Most of it goes to San Francisco-Sacramento region, but some capital drifts southward into Los Angeles.
The Gold Rush has a spillover effect in terms of population. Many argonauts visit Los Angeles on their way to or from the gold fields. Some stay for a short period of time, but other linger or become residents.
Statehood and Americanization
Statehood and Americanization
In 1850, just a few years after the end of the Mexican-American War, California becomes a state.
Thanks in part to the rapid increase in value of ranchland, and the sometimes informal, or corrupt history of land aquisition during the Mexican era, Californios had difficulty making good on claims to land. American land speculators, or aspiring ranchers were all to happy to contest pre-existing claims on the land in order to stake their own claims.
Americans begin to take over.
Still - many Californios were able to hold on to large ranch estates.
Pio Pico
Augustus Timms built the first warf
Sepulvedas established a stage coach route from Harbor to LA.
Banning established Wilmington - a competing port facility.
Wilminngton hosted Union encampment during Civil War
Great Flood
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Flood_of_1862
Severe Drought 1863-65
Wipes out Cattle Industry - in the short term. Many of the remaining prominent ranch families lose their fortunes, and their lands and status.
Rail arrives in 1869
Anglos and Northern Euros arrive in large numbers with the Gold Rush
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