What is California's geography like, and how did it affect the state? - ANSWER - Moun-
tains: Sierra Nevadas run 400 along eastside of state, isolated CA until mid nineteenth cen-
tury, provided water from snow
- Desert: most of southeast CA, Mojave Desert, Death Valley, isolated CA from east and
south
- Central Valley: large valley spanning entire middle section of the state, good for agriculture
- Coast: extensive coastline provided protection from foreign conquest predating ocean ex-
ploration
Kinship networks - ANSWER (American Indians) tribes centered around familial associa-
tions, and formed basis for leadership, social organization, and economics
Describe American Indian religion - ANSWER priests, shamans, ritualists. Kuksu system in
the north, toloache system in the south
Describe American Indian economics - ANSWER hunters, trappers, gatherers; trade pro-
moted communication and expansion
Who was the first to explore CA and when? - ANSWER Spanish explorers! Mid sixteenth
century!
Who established New Spain (Baja CA) and oversaw the fall of the Aztec Empire? - AN-
SWER Hernando Cortes, 1519
1
, King Carlos - ANSWER Spanish king, who, in 1769, ordered many expeditions to north CA
to claim it and establish missions
Junipero Serra - ANSWER Franciscan priest who accompanied one of the first Spanish ex-
peditions; established mission system
The Missions - ANSWER (mid 1700s) 21 missions between San Diego and San Francisco;
self contained, church was main building, also living quarters, kitchens, workshops, store-
rooms, etc; prosperous and functional; some CA Indians came willingly, others were forced
Known as El Camino Real
Why did agriculture change between 1550s -1800s? - ANSWER missionaries and Spanish
settlers introduced a number of plants and animals to CA, including oranges, lemons, apples,
figs, wheat, corn, almonds, walnuts, horses, sheep, grapes
When did Mexico win independence from Spain? - ANSWER 1821
When was CA proclaimed territory of Mexico? - ANSWER 1825
How did CA's Mexican ownership (1825) affect the missions? - ANSWER By 1836 they
were dismantled, freed Indians, confiscated and plundered missions, forced Franciscans out
completely
The Rancho Period - ANSWER late 1830s - 1840s; Mexican govt gave out large land grants
to bring settlers; large ranches, lived good lives, raised cattle, rode horses, employed Indians
When was the Mexican war? - ANSWER 1845-1848
2
tains: Sierra Nevadas run 400 along eastside of state, isolated CA until mid nineteenth cen-
tury, provided water from snow
- Desert: most of southeast CA, Mojave Desert, Death Valley, isolated CA from east and
south
- Central Valley: large valley spanning entire middle section of the state, good for agriculture
- Coast: extensive coastline provided protection from foreign conquest predating ocean ex-
ploration
Kinship networks - ANSWER (American Indians) tribes centered around familial associa-
tions, and formed basis for leadership, social organization, and economics
Describe American Indian religion - ANSWER priests, shamans, ritualists. Kuksu system in
the north, toloache system in the south
Describe American Indian economics - ANSWER hunters, trappers, gatherers; trade pro-
moted communication and expansion
Who was the first to explore CA and when? - ANSWER Spanish explorers! Mid sixteenth
century!
Who established New Spain (Baja CA) and oversaw the fall of the Aztec Empire? - AN-
SWER Hernando Cortes, 1519
1
, King Carlos - ANSWER Spanish king, who, in 1769, ordered many expeditions to north CA
to claim it and establish missions
Junipero Serra - ANSWER Franciscan priest who accompanied one of the first Spanish ex-
peditions; established mission system
The Missions - ANSWER (mid 1700s) 21 missions between San Diego and San Francisco;
self contained, church was main building, also living quarters, kitchens, workshops, store-
rooms, etc; prosperous and functional; some CA Indians came willingly, others were forced
Known as El Camino Real
Why did agriculture change between 1550s -1800s? - ANSWER missionaries and Spanish
settlers introduced a number of plants and animals to CA, including oranges, lemons, apples,
figs, wheat, corn, almonds, walnuts, horses, sheep, grapes
When did Mexico win independence from Spain? - ANSWER 1821
When was CA proclaimed territory of Mexico? - ANSWER 1825
How did CA's Mexican ownership (1825) affect the missions? - ANSWER By 1836 they
were dismantled, freed Indians, confiscated and plundered missions, forced Franciscans out
completely
The Rancho Period - ANSWER late 1830s - 1840s; Mexican govt gave out large land grants
to bring settlers; large ranches, lived good lives, raised cattle, rode horses, employed Indians
When was the Mexican war? - ANSWER 1845-1848
2
