Summary
A summary of events, highlighting California State Parks, within the years 1846 through 1850.
1846
March |
John C. Frémont and an American force defy Mexican authorities on Gavilan Peak |
May |
War is declared between the United States and Mexico |
June |
American settlers take over the Mexican Army barracks in the Bear Flag Revolt at Sonoma. Bear Flaggers battle Californios at Olompali. |
July |
John D. Sloat dispatches marines and sailors to raise the American flag at Monterey. |
October |
Californios keep Americans under seige at San Diego. |
November |
The Donner Party is trapped in the heavy snows of the Sierra. |
December |
Stephen Watts Kearny’s Army of the West fights Californios led by Andrés Pico in San Pasqual Valley. |
1847
January |
600 Americans meet 500 Californios at the Battle of San Gabriel. Robert F. Stockton’s American force fights those of José María Flores at the Battle of La Mesa. The Mormon Battalion marches across the Anza-Borrego Desert enroute to San Diego. |
February |
The first relief party reaches the Donner Party’s camps. |
March |
The first detachment of Jonathan Stevenson’s 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers arrives in San Francisco. |
August |
Work commences on a sawmill at Coloma. |
December |
The Sitka, the first steamship on the Sacramento River, drops anchor at Sacramento. |
1848
January |
James Marshall discovers gold on the banks of the American River at Coloma. |
February |
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican-American War. |
March |
Mormons find gold on the South Fork of the American River. |
April |
Miners use gold dust for the first time in exchange for goods at Sutter’s Fort. |
May |
Publication of the newspaper, Californian, is suspended for lack of readers - most have left for the mines! |
August |
News reaches California about the conclusion of the Mexican-American War. |
September |
The New York Herald newspaper reports the gold discovery. |
December |
President James K. Polk officially confirms the California gold strike. |
1849
Spring |
Gold is discovered on the South Yuba River. Reading Springs (Shasta) becomes a trade center for the Northern California mines. |
April |
The Placer Times newspaper is first printed in Sacramento. |
May |
The U.S. Army establishes a depot at Benicia. |
July |
Commissioners appointed to set the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico meet in San Diego. |
August |
An election for delegates to California’s first Constitutional Convention is held. |
September |
Delegates assemble at Colton Hall, Monterey to write the Constitution. |
November |
California’s Constitution is ratified by popular vote. |
December |
Peter Burnett is sworn in as California’s first elected governor. |
1850
Mining in the vicinity of Millerton begins in 1850. Point Sal beaches are placer-mined. | |
February |
Vallejo is made California’s capital. The City of Sacramento is incorporated. |
March |
Gold is discovered by Thaddeus Hildreth’s party at Columbia. |
May |
Gold is found at Gold Bluff Beach. |
June |
The value of gold quartz is recognized at Grass Valley. |
August |
Henry Clay proposes a compromise in Congress to enable California's admission. Squatters riot in the streets of Sacramento. |
September |
The House of Representatives passes the California bill. California joins the Union as the 31st state! |
October |
News of the admission reaches California. |