Green Beginnings
Before Europeans arrived, California was a sparsely populated region mainly inhabited by Indigenous Nations such as the Miwok, Ohlone, Pomo, and others. These Nations lived in diverse environments ranging from coastal areas to deserts, mountains, and forests. They had established sophisticated societies with unique cultures, languages, and traditions, relying on hunting, gathering, fishing, and some agriculture for sustenance.
Indigenous Nations saw land as a shared resource belonging to the entire community rather than to individuals. These communities would use and manage land collectively, with various families or clans having rights to specific areas for hunting, gathering, or farming. Land was cherished and only used out of necessity for survival. However, these beliefs would soon be challenged by the arrival of the Spanish.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
In the late 18th century, Spanish explorers began to colonize California, annexing it as a part of the New Spain territory. Missions, Presidios (forts), and Pueblos (towns) were established throughout the region. This period, known as the Spanish colonization of California, brought significant changes to the Indigenous people's way of life, including forced labor, conversion to Christianity, and the introduction of European diseases that devastated Indigenous populations.
​
​
​
​
​
​
Native encampment on banks of Feather River, California, Robert B. Honeyman Jr. Collection,The Bancroft Library ALB
An idealized portrait of the first Christian baptism in California, San Juan Capistrano Mission by Engelhardt Zephyrin (1922).
1820 painting of European view of supplicating Indians seeking absolution from local priests. Bancroft Library, Berkeley, CA (HN000275a)
Because of social inequality, economic grievances, and the ideas of enlightenment, New Spain would fight for their Independence in a war that lasted from 1810 to 1821. New Spain would gain independence and rename its self to Estados Unidos Mexicanos. (United Mexican States) Soon after gaining independence, Mexico would again have to fight a war, this time against the United States.
​
​
​
​
​
The Mexican American war was fought between the years of 1846 to 1848 and resulted in the United States expanding its territory by 1/3. California is now a part of the United States. A discovery in California would soon change everything...
