Territory of Colorado (California) facts for kids
The Territory of Colorado was a plan in 1859-1860 to create a new United States territory. This territory would have been made from the southern parts of California. The idea came from people called Californios and others who supported slavery, mostly from the southern United States. They wanted to separate from the rest of California.
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Why Southern California Wanted to Separate
In the 1850s, many people in Southern California felt treated unfairly. They were called "Californios," and they were often unhappy with the taxes and land laws set by the state government. These laws seemed to favor Northern California more. Also, many people in Southern California, especially in the less populated areas known as "Cow Counties," supported slavery. This was different from the views held by many in Northern California.
Attempts to Form a New Territory
Because of these differences, people in Southern California tried three times in the 1850s to become a separate state or territory. They wanted their own government, separate from Northern California.
The Pico Act of 1859
The last and most serious attempt was called the Pico Act in 1859. This act was approved by the California State Legislature, which is like the state's law-making body. The State Governor, John B. Weller, also signed it into law.
The people in the proposed new territory strongly supported this idea. Nearly 75% of voters said "yes" to becoming the Territory of Colorado.
What the New Territory Would Include
The proposed Territory of Colorado would have been quite large. It would have included all the counties in Southern California. This stretched up to what was then a much bigger Tulare County, which today includes areas like Kings County, most of Kern County, and part of Inyo County. It also included San Luis Obispo County.
Sending the Proposal to Washington
After the voters approved it, the plan was sent to Washington, D.C. This is where the United States government makes big decisions. Senator Milton Latham was a strong supporter of the plan and helped present it in Washington.
Why the Plan Failed
However, the plan never became a reality. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president. His election led to a big problem called the "secession crisis." This was when many southern states decided to leave the United States, leading to the American Civil War. Because of this national crisis, the proposal for the Territory of Colorado was never voted on in Washington, D.C.
