California Department facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Departamento de California |
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| Department of the Second Mexican Empire | |||||||||
| 1865–1867 | |||||||||
 Location of the California Department (red) in the Second Mexican Empire. |
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| Capital | La Paz | ||||||||
| • Type | Empire | ||||||||
| Historical era | Second French intervention in Mexico | ||||||||
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• Established
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1865 | ||||||||
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• Disestablished
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1867 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Mexico | ||||||||
The California Department was a special region, or "department," that existed in Mexico for a short time between 1865 and 1867. It was part of the Second Mexican Empire, which was a period when Mexico had an emperor instead of a president.
This department was located in the northwestern part of Mexico. It covered the entire Baja California peninsula.
Where Was the California Department?
The California Department included all the land of the Baja California peninsula. This is the long, narrow piece of land that stretches south from what is now the United States.
It's important to know that this department did not include the area that is now the U.S. state of California. That land, once called Alta California, had already become part of the United States in 1848. This happened after the Mexican–American War and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
How Was It Created?
The California Department was officially created by a special rule, called an imperial decree, on March 3, 1865. This decree clearly described its borders:
- To the north, it bordered the United States.
- To the east, it was next to the Department of Arizona. The Colorado River and the Sea of Cortez separated them.
- To the south and west, it was bordered by the Pacific Ocean.
The decree also stated that all islands in both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez that belonged to Mexico were part of this department. The main city, or capital, of the California Department was the port of La Paz.
What Happened to It?
The California Department only lasted for about two years, from 1865 to 1867. After the Second Mexican Empire ended, the area went back to being a territory of Mexico.
Today, the land where the California Department once was is now divided into two Mexican states: Baja California and Baja California Sur.
See also
In Spanish: Departamento de California para niños
