Territorial evolution of California facts for kids

Before 1768: A enlargeable territorial map of California tribal groups and languages prior to European contact.

Before 1768: An enlargeable map of the world showing the dividing lines for; Pope Alexander VI's Inter caetera papal bull (1493), the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), and the Treaty of Saragossa (1529).

Spanish period: An enlargeable map of the United States after the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

Spanish period: An enlargeable map of the United States after the Adams–Onís Treaty took effect in 1821.

Mexican period: An enlargeable map showing Alta California Territory (black) after the 1824 Constitution of Mexico.

Mexican period: Political divisions of Mexico as altered by Las Siete Leyes.

American period: An enlargeable map of the United States after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.

American period: An enlargeable map of the United States after the Compromise of 1850.

American period: The Nataqua Territory extension into California (light yellow), and Nevada's Roop County claim (light yellow area plus area outlined in green).

American period: An enlargeable map of the United States as it has been since 1959.

The following timeline traces the territorial evolution of California, the thirty-first state admitted to the United States of America, including the process of removing Indigenous Peoples from their native lands, or restricting them to reservations.

Timeline

Indigenous & territorial claims prior to 1768

• First people on the west coast of North America, about 13,000 years BCE
• Indigenous peoples of California, see map circa 1492
• Early European edicts and claims that included the yet unknown land of California
  • Inter caetera papal bull issued by Pope Alexander VI, 1493
  • Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494
  • Vasco Núñez de Balboa claims South Sea (Pacific Ocean) and all adjoining lands for Spain, 1513
  • Treaty of Saragossa, 1529
• Early European claims on California soil
  • San Miguel (San Diego) claim made by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo on behalf of Spain, 1542
  • New Albion ( Point Reyes) claim made by Sir Francis Drake on behalf of England, 1579

Spanish period (1768-1821)

• Las Californias claimed by Spain under the governance of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, 1768–1804
  • Spanish missions in California, 1769-1833
    • Relocation of Mission Indians, 1769-1834
  • Spanish rancho land grants, 1769-1821
  • Peace of Paris, 1783
• Alta California Province established, 1804–1821
  • Fort Ross established by the Russian-American Company, 1812-1842
    • Northern California coast claimed by Ivan Kuskov on behalf of Russia, 1812
  • Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819
• Mexican War of Independence, 1808-1821
  • Monterey, California held by Hippolyte Bouchard on behalf of Argentina (6 days), 1818
  • Treaty of Córdoba signed August 21, 1821

Mexican period (1821-1848)

• Alta California Province transferred to Mexico after Treaty of Córdoba, 1821-1824
  • Army of the Three Guarantees, 1821
  • Mexican rancho land grants, 1821-1846
• First Mexican Empire, 1821-1823
• Provisional Government of Mexico, 1823-1824
• First Mexican Republic, 1824-1835
  • Alta California Territory established via the 1824 Constitution of Mexico, 1824–1836
  • Treaty of Limits (Mexico–United States), 1828
  • Mexican secularization act of 1833
• Centralist Republic of Mexico, 1835-1846
  • California's Lone Star coup and declaration of independence, 1836
  • Las Californias Department established by Las Siete Leyes (The Seven Laws), 1836-1846
• Second Federal Republic of Mexico, 1846-1848
  • Alta California Territory reestablished when 1824 Constitution of Mexico was restored, 1846-1848
• Mexican–American War, 1846–1848
  • California Republic (25 days), 1846
  • U.S. military government of California, 1846–1849
  • Treaty of Cahuenga signed January 13, 1847
  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed February 2, 1848
    • Mexican Cession of 1848

American period (1848-present)

• Alta California administered by the United States as part of the Mexican Cession Unorganized territory, 1848-1850
  • Provisional government of California, 1849–1850
  • State of Deseret (extralegal), 1849–1850
  • Constitution of California (see California Constitutional Boundaries), October 13, 1849
  • Compromise of 1850
• State of California since 1850
  • California Statehood Act, September 9, 1850
  • Act for the Government and Protection of Indians, April 22, 1850
    • California Indian Wars, 1850-1880
  • Aboriginal title in California, 1851-present
    • California Land Act of 1851
    • California Indian Reservations and Cessions, 1851-1892
    • Indian Reorganization Act of 1934
    • Indian Claims Act of 1946
    • California Act of 1949
    • California Rancheria Termination Acts, 1956-present
  • California-Nevada border disputes, 1856-1980
    • Nataqua Territory, 1856-1861
    • Roop County dispute, 1861-1864
  • California-Oregon border dispute, 1868-present

California Constitutional Boundaries

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA (1849)

Article XII; Boundary

The Boundary of the State of California shall be as follows:
Commencing at this point of intersection of 42d degree of north latitude with the 120th degree of longitude west from Greenwich, and running south on the line of said 120th degree of west longitude until it intersects the 39th degree of north latitude; thence running in a straight line in a south easterly direction to the River Colorado, at a point where it intersects the 35th degree of north latitude; thence down the middle of the channel of said river, to the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, as established by the Treaty of May 30th, 1848; thence running west and along said boundary line to the Pacific Ocean, and extending therein three English miles; thence running in a northwesterly direction, and following the direction of the Pacific Coast to the 42d degree of north latitude, thence on the line of said 42d degree of north latitude to the place of beginning. Also all the islands, harbors, and bays, along adjacent to the Pacific Coast.