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CALIFORNIA, The First 100 Years.
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CALIFORNIA, The First 100 Years. Book I SPANISH CALIFORNIA Junipero Serra was educated by the Franciscans on the Mediterranean Island of Mallorca. As a 35-year-old
teacher he requested Missionary duty and was sent to New Spain (today's Mexico) where he excelled in the conversion of
the natives to Christianity and was appointed, Mission Presidente. Spain was concerned that both the Russians and the British had ideas about settling
California and with their previous success of making the Indian Population Spanish Subjects conceived of expanding the Mission
concept to California as well. Padre Junipero Serra now 55 was selected for the task and amidst terrible hardship founded the first Mission in California
at San Diego in 1769. From
that first Mission grew Twenty-one California Missions from San Diego to Sonoma, approximately one days horseback ride from
each other to provide protection for travelers and to convert the natives to Christianity and to become under Spanish influence
to assist in the protection from hostilities. Padre Serra personally took part in the creation of nine of these missions, and is often referred
to as the Apostle of California. Junipero Serra, responsible for the first settlement in California left a legacy of trained
missionaries to carry on his work by the time he passed away in at age 70. Most of Father Serra's accomplishments were
taking place at the same time the 13 Colonies were involved in the Revolutionary War with England 3000 miles away. The Missions
continued to be built from 1784 to 1823 by Junipero's successors converting more than 89,000 Native Americans to a civilized
society. Book II MEXICAN CALIFORNIA Mexico
won independence from Spain in 1821, which included all of California and much of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and parts
of Colorado and Wyoming. Those Mexicans settling in California lived near the Missions for protection. Lt. John Fremont commissioned by President Polk to map passes through
the mountains arrived in St. Louis where he attempts to hire a guide. After meeting Kit Carson and checking out his credentials
as married and living in Taos, NM, with a history as fur trapper, scout, wagon train guide with great knowledge of the Indians
and trails through the mountains, he hires Kit and a life long friendship begins. Kit Carson successfully leads Fremont to California on various dangerous trips, where
they often stay in the California Missions for protection against savages. Mexican authorities were not enamored by the visiting
Americans and eventually requested that they leave California. President Polk declared War on Mexico on May 13, 1846. One month and a day later American settlers
unaware that War had been declared raised the Bear Flag of the Republic of California in defiance of Mexican rule. Commodore Stockton arrived by ship with Marines
to join Lt. Col. Fremont and General Kearny left Kansas and later Santa Fe, NM with Kit Carson as a guide and about 100 dragoons
to support the few Americans of the Bear Flag Revolt with an occupation force. The famous Mormon Battalion of 500 men left Council Bluffs, IA in July,
1846 and after a 6 month march reached Warner's Hot Springs, CA on Jan. 21, 1847 completing a record infantry march too
late for action but utilized as an occupation force in both San Diego and Mission San Louis Rey at Oceanside. Book III AMERICAN CALIFORNIA Stockton, Fremont
and Kearney often disagreed on the leadership of California providing an interesting twist to the story. The Mexican War eventually
ended at Chapultepec, a Citadel defending Mexico City. After payment to Mexico of $15 million dollars, Mexico ceded California
to the US. During this same
year in 1848 gold was discovered at Coloma and by 1849 the famed Gold Rush was bringing 80,000 prospectors to California.
One year later in 1850, California became the nations 31 state. California, a mythical island paradise from the 15th century book "Las Surges de Esplandian"
continues to intrigue the adventurer. END CLICK HERE TO ORDER "CALIFORNIA, THE FIRST 100 YEARS" DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLISHER.
Mission San Diego de Alcala, built to the East with better farmland.
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