When was California settled?

Answer 1

It depends on your starting point. The Spanish came to CA in the 1500's and by the 1700's had settlements in the coastal areas of the state ( nothing in the center. It was too hot, dry, and the natives weren't friendly). Missions were set up by Spain and then taken over by Mexico. By the 1800's trappers were coming into CA and the United States was moving westward. In 1848 Texas became a state and now the government was looking at CA. The Mexican government tried to keep settlement out of CA and would arrest Americans as they came into the state. President Polk sent John C. Fremont and his men into CA to see if they thought that the area could be taken from Mexico. Fremont and his men had several run ins with Mexican troops. In 1848 gold was found at Sutter's Mill and that settled the question on who would control CA. So, many people came into CA to look for gold that it overwhelmed the Mexican government and Fremont and his men claimed the region as US territory. The Bear Flag Republic was born. Within 2 years so many people had arrived in the state that it became a state on Sept. 9, 1850.