California 1849

Prior to European colonization, California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America. European exploration in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the colonization by the Spanish Empire. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821, following its successful war for independence, but was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican–American War. The California Gold Rush started in 1848 and led to social and demographic changes. The western portion of Alta California was then organized and admitted as the 31st state in 1850, as a free state, following the Compromise of 1850.

On Wednesday nights the Institute will present a thirty-week course “History of the United States of America” in which we study the story of how the North American colonies fought for their independence, came together to form a union, wrote a Declaration of Independence and won their freedom from Britain. Fall Quarter will cover the Revolutionary War; Winter Quarter will tell the story of the new nation; and Spring Quarter will study the expansion of the new nation into the western lands. A second thirty-week series will pick up the story at the Civil War and bring our USA history up to World War I. All classes begin at 7:00 PM.

WEEK 29