Mexican Independence and Rule in California

• In 1810, Mexicans fought for freedom from Spain, led by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest who advocated for equality.
• The Mexican War for Independence, a decade-long struggle, led to Mexico gaining independence from Spain in 1821, ending 300 years of Spanish rule.
• Mexican rule in California led to the closure of missions, distribution of land, and the rise of ranchos owned by Californios, Mexicans born in California, thus creating a special culture.

End of the Mission System

• Mexican leaders closed California missions due to their association with Spanish rule and desire for the valuable land they occupied.
• José Figueroa, the Mexican governor of California, planned to convert missions into pueblos.
• Mission churches would become town churches, half the mission property would go to Indians, and the other half would be taken by the government.
• After Figueroa's death, subsequent governors granted land to friends and relatives, neglecting the Indians and leading to the decay of most churches.

Mexican Land Grants

• The closing of the missions freed up land, which the California governors distributed through land grants.
• A land grant is a gift of land by the government.
• Any Mexican citizen could apply for a land grant by providing a diseño, which is a simple drawn map showing the land's borders and natural features.
• Wealthy Californios received most of the land grants.

California's Ranchos

• Land grants led to the rise of rancheros, powerful landowners who created large cattle ranches or ranchos, which became the center of life in Mexican California.

The Vaqueros

• Ranchos in Mexican California had thousands of roaming cattle, which were managed by Indian vaqueros.
• Vaqueros were skilled horsemen known for their roping skills using a rope called a reata.
• Vaqueros worked from sunup to late at night, rounding up and branding cattle with the rancho's symbol using a branding iron called a fierro.
• Vaqueros held an annual roundup, or rodeo, where they gathered cattle, sorted herds, and branded new calves.

The Hide and Tallow Trade

• The economy of Mexican California depended on cattle, with hides and tallow being valuable products.
• Hides were used to make leather.
• Tallow was used to make soap and candles.
• Rancheros traded hides and tallow with ships, receiving tools and cloth in return.
• Hides were so valuable in trade that they became known as "California bank notes”.

Mexican Law Helps Trade Grow

• Under Mexican rule, trade with foreign ships was allowed, leading to increased trade and ships from various countries visiting California ports.
• Trade benefited rancheros, who produced hides and tallow, as well as people in coastal pueblos who sold goods to sailors.
• Juana Briones, a local merchant with European and African ancestors, sold farm products to sailors and traders and eventually bought a rancho.
• Mexican law allowed women to own businesses.

Mexican Architecture

• Adobe walls, rounded arches, and red tile roofs are common architectural elements in California, a style brought by Spanish missionaries.
• Rancheros adopted this style for their haciendas, using thick adobe walls for insulation and arranging rooms around a courtyard or patio.
• Rancheros also added verandas to their homes to provide shade.

Fiestas and Fandangos

• Rancheros loved to celebrate with fiestas, which are celebrations lasting for days.
• Rodeos showcased vaqueros' roping and riding skills, which grew into the modern sport.

Summary

• In 1821, Mexico gained independence from Spain, and California became part of Mexico.
• The Mexican government closed missions, granted land to Mexican Californians, and the Californios established cattle ranchos.
• Trade with ships grew the economy, and vaqueros, skilled Indian workers, were essential for ranch success.
• Mexican Californians left a lasting impact on California's architecture, city names, food, and entertainment.