Chapter 4: Mexican Rule in California
I. Mexico Wins Its Freedom
A. The Road to War
*1. 9/16/1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave the
Cry of Dolores speech calling on people to join against
Spanish rule
2. independence-freedom from another country’s rule
3. criollos, people born of Spanish parents in Mexico, were
not allowed to hold best jobs in government
*4. mestizos, people of both European and Indian heritage,
treated even less fairly
B. Mexico Gains Independence
*1. 11 years Mexican colonists fought Spain for
independence
*2. during war, Spain too busy to pay attention to far-off
CA- soldiers in CA presidios and settlers received few
supplies from Spain
3. Monterey burned during war (location of only battle in
CA)
*4. 1821, Mexico won independence (after 11 years)
*5. 1822, Pablo Vincente de Sola, governor of CA, asked
leaders of presidios, missions and pueblos if they wanted
to be ruled by Mexico
*6. leaders decided to accept Mexican rule
7. Californios-name for Spanish-speaking people of AltaCalifornia
*8. Under Spanish rule, CA could not trade with other
countries---under Mexican rule, CA trade with many
countries helped CA economy
C. Problems for the Mission Indians
*1. Mexican government wanted to end mission system
2. 1834, Governor Jose Figueroa ordered secularization,
the end of church rule of the missions
*3. half of land was to be given to Indians
*4. Indians ended up getting very little land---land went to
Californios and new settlers
*5. Indians that got land lacked tools and animals needed
for farming
*6. Lorenzo Asisara, Indian born and raised at Mission
Santa Cruz, said Indians got only “old mares that were
no longer productive” instead of healthy horses
*7. Indians had no choice but to work for Californios and
new settlers
D. Identify Multiple Causes and Effects
1. cause-something that makes something else happen
2. effect-what happens as a result of the cause
*3. Father Hidalgos’s speech caused criollos, mestizos and
Indians to join together which led to Mexican War for
Independence
*4. Mexico wins
independence
from Spain.
CA leaders
decide to accept
rule by Mexico.
Mexican laws
and officials
are put in
place in CA
Mission
system
comes to
end in Ca