ANALYZING ART Name: Unit Focus Question: How did California transition from a Spanish outpost to the 31 st state of the United States of America? Lesson Focus Question: How did Mexican Diseños and land grant court cases of the 1840s and 1850s impact the Californios as they gained United States citizenship? Content Vocabulary: Diseño: Spanish and Mexican land grant maps Californios: Californians Ranchos: Ranch Visual Analysis Worksheet Image #1 - Diseño del Rancho San Miguelito: Monterey County, Calif. (1841) Describe what you see? Image #2 Topographic Map Concordia Parish (1841) Describe what you see? What is this image portraying? What is this image portraying? What is the purpose of the source? What is the purpose of the source? I wonder I wonder Use the sentence starters below to discuss the image. I noticed It looks like It shows The painting describes I think that
WHY: Analysis How do these two images differ? Explain. Knowing what these images represent, how does this change your understanding of the significance of these images? Diseño del Rancho San Miguelito: Monterey County, Calif. (1841) Online Posting. Calisphere, University of California. 23 June 2014. http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/themed_collections/subtopic0a.html
Forshey, Caleb Goldsmith. Topographic map of the Parish of Concordia, state of Louisiana. 1841. Online Posting. Library of Congress. 23 June 2014. http://www.loc.gov/item/2012592311.
ANALYZING ART Name: Teacher Key Unit Focus Question: How did California transition from a Spanish outpost to the 31 st state of the United States of America? Lesson Focus Question: How did Mexican Diseños and land grant court cases of the 1840s and 1850s impact the Californios as they gained United States citizenship? Content Vocabulary: Diseño: Spanish and Mexican land grant maps Californios: Californians Ranchos: Ranch Visual Analysis Worksheet Image #1 - Diseño del Rancho San Miguelito: Monterey County, Calif. (1841) Describe what you see? Watercolor painting of land territory; Trees and plants; Dirt roads or pathways; Waterways, rivers or creeks; Mountains and rocks; A house; A bear; North, South, East and West symbol; and Numbers in various locations on the painting. What is this image portraying? Image #2 Topographic Map Concordia Parish (1841) Describe what you see? Divided or parceled land; Chart of a catalog of the Spanish Grants and numbered on the map; Mississippi River; Waterways, rivers or creeks; and Chart of the products of Concordia Parish. What is this image portraying? The rough watercolor painting of the physical boundaries of the of Rancho San Miguelito. What is the purpose of the source? A detailed map of the parceled land and boundaries of individuals in Concordia Parish. What is the purpose of the source? To help prove the boundaries of the land grant of Rancho San Miguelito. I wonder Answers will vary To help prove the boundaries of the land grants of individuals in Concordia Parish. I wonder Answers will vary Use the sentence starters below to discuss the image. I noticed It looks like Answers will vary It shows The painting describes Answers will vary I think that Answers will vary
WHY: Analysis How do these two images differ? Explain. Answers will vary. Possible answer: The Diseño is a beautiful watercolor rough sketch of the boundaries of the Rancho San Miguelito, while the Topographic Map of Concordia Parish is a clear, well-drawn map that lays out the parcels of each land grant. Knowing what these images represent, how does this change your understanding of the significance of these images? Answers will vary. Possible answer: The details in the Diseño may change due to weather, environmental factors, or changes to the terrain, which can make it difficult for people to justify and prove the boundaries of their land.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and Legal Land Grant Cases Directions: 1. Read each section. 2. UNDERLINE the main point or argument each box. 3. Gather evidence to support your claim by completely answering each attached question. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the peace treaty signed in 1848 at the end of the Mexican American War. Below are a few excerpts from the treaty that discuss what the U.S. was agreed to offer the Californios at the end of the war. (Excerpt below is from Article 8 of The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo) A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 1875. [The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]. Online Posting. The Library of Congress. 5 July 2014. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collid=llsl&filename=009/llsl009.db&recnum=983. What were Californios promised in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo? Those [Californios] who shall prefer to remain in the said territories, may either retain the title and rights of Mexican citizens, or acquire those of citizens of the United States. But they shall be under the obligation to make their election within one year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty In the said territories, property of every kind, now belonging to Mexicans not established there, shall be inviolably [unbreakably] respected. The present owners, the heirs of these, and all Mexicans who may hereafter acquire said property by contract, shall enjoy with respect to it guarantees equally ample as if the same belonged to citizens of the United States. The U.S. Congress in 1851 created a law that forced the Californios to prove their land holdings in front of the Board of Land Commissioners. Excerpts below are from the following: Perez, Chris. Ranchos of California. Grants of land in California made by Spanish or Mexican Authorities. State Lands Commission, 1982. Online Posting. 16 April 2007. U.C. Berkeley Library. 11 July 2014. http://cluster3.lib.berkeley.edu/eart/rancho.html. Why did Congress create the Board of Land Commissioners in 1851? In order to implement the confirmation of these land titles, the Congress of the United States on March 3, 1851, established the Board of Land Commissioners, by virtue of an Act entitled, "An Act to Ascertain and Settle Private Land Claims in the State of California, (U.S. Stats. at large, Volume 9, page 631). How did these court cases impact the Californios? The procedures within this Act placed the burden of proof on the individuals seeking confirmation of private land claims. While these procedures discouraged the filing of fraudulent claims, the valid claims were encumbered [burdened] by the costly lawyers, the difficulty of finding absolute proof of ownership and the different laws, customs, and languages involved. How were these court cases difficult for Californios? Added to these difficulties was the time involved for the landowners to receive a final patent to their land. The average length of time for a final patent to be issued, after the filing of an original petition, was seventeen years, some took as long a, thirty-five to forty years. The cost of this litigation and confirming process was charged to the applicant.
Specific Land Grant Cases of Californios from the Bay Area, California. Excerpts below from the following: Hispanic Americans: Spanish Colonization and Californios (1769-1800 s). Online Posting. 2014. U.C. Berkeley Calisphere. 23 June 2014. http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/calcultures/ethnic_groups/subtopic3a.html. What were some of the difficulties that the Vallejo family faced in claiming their land? [The] informality of Mexican land grants made legal claims difficult when miners, squatters, and homesteaders overran Californios' lands, as the transcript of the legal challenge United States vs. Mariano G. Vallejo makes clear. shown here. In the case, filed on May 31, 1852, Vallejo claimed ownership of 66,622.17 acres in Sonoma County, at Petaluma and near Sonoma. He finally won the case in 1874, 22 years later. What happened to the Peralta family s land as a result of the court cases? Even when Californio families won legal title to their lands, many found themselves bankrupt from attorney's fees or taxes. The Peralta family lost all but 700 of their 49,000 acres in the East Bay (encompassing the present-day cities of San Leandro, Alameda, Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville, Berkeley, and Albany) to lawyers, taxes, squatters, and speculators. Critical Thinking: In regards to the Californios, how did the U.S. government violate the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and why? Lesson Focus Question: How did Mexican Diseños and land grant court cases of the 1840s and 1850s impact the Californios as they gained United States citizenship? The Mexican Diseños and land grant cases of the 1840s and 1850s impacted the Californios as they gained United States citizenship because. Specifically, (include evidence from the text above to support your claim) In Conclusion, (include your reasoning of your claim)
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and Legal Land Grant Cases TEACHER KEY Directions: 1. Read each section. 2. UNDERLINE the main point or argument each box. 3. Gather evidence to support your claim by completely answering each attached question. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the peace treaty signed in 1848 at the end of the Mexican American War. Below are a few excerpts from the treaty that discuss what the U.S. was agreed to offer the Californios at the end of the war. (Excerpt below is from Article 8 of The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo) A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 1875. [The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]. Online Posting. The Library of Congress. 5 July 2014. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collid=llsl&filename=009/llsl009.db&recnum=983. What were Californios promised in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo? Californios had a year to decide if they wished to stay Mexican citizens or to become American citizens. Californios property was to be respected and protected, so that they can continue to live on their land and pass it on to their children. Those [Californios] who shall prefer to remain in the said territories, may either retain the title and rights of Mexican citizens, or acquire those of citizens of the United States. But they shall be under the obligation to make their election within one year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty In the said territories, property of every kind, now belonging to Mexicans not established there, shall be inviolably [unbreakably] respected. The present owners, the heirs of these, and all Mexicans who may hereafter acquire said property by contract, shall enjoy with respect to it guarantees equally ample as if the same belonged to citizens of the United States. The U.S. Congress in 1851 created a law that forced the Californios to prove their land holdings in front of the Board of Land Commissioners. Excerpts below are from the following: Perez, Chris. Ranchos of California. Grants of land in California made by Spanish or Mexican Authorities. State Lands Commission, 1982. Online Posting. 16 April 2007. U.C. Berkeley Library. 11 July 2014. http://cluster3.lib.berkeley.edu/eart/rancho.html. Why did Congress create the Board of Land Commissioners in 1851? It forced Californios to prove their land grants. How did these court cases impact the Californios? These court cases but the burden on the Californios to prove they owned the land, and they had to pay all of the legal fees. How were these court cases difficult for Californios? They took a long time, and the Californios had to pay all of their costs, which after forty years can be really expensive. In order to implement the confirmation of these land titles, the Congress of the United States on March 3, 1851, established the Board of Land Commissioners, by virtue of an Act entitled, "An Act to Ascertain and Settle Private Land Claims in the State of California, (U.S. Stats. at large, Volume 9, page 631). The procedures within this Act placed the burden of proof on the individuals seeking confirmation of private land claims. While these procedures discouraged the filing of fraudulent claims, the valid claims were encumbered [burdened] by the costly lawyers, the difficulty of finding absolute proof of ownership and the different laws, customs, and languages involved. Added to these difficulties was the time involved for the landowners to receive a final patent to their land. The average length of time for a final patent to be issued, after the filing of an original petition, was seventeen years, some took as long a, thirty-five to forty years. The cost of this litigation and confirming process was charged to the applicant. Specific Land Grant Cases of Californios from the Bay Area, California. Excerpts below from the following: Hispanic Americans: Spanish Colonization and Californios (1769-1800 s).
Online Posting. 2014. U.C. Berkeley Calisphere. 23 June 2014. http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/calcultures/ethnic_groups/subtopic3a.html. What were some of the difficulties that the Vallejo family faced in claiming their land? California Gold Miners, squatters, and homesteaders stole some of Vallejo s land from him, while he was fighting his case. It took 22 years for Vallejo to prove his case, which is very expensive. What happened to the Peralta family s land as a result of the court cases? The expensive legal fees forced Californios like the Peralta family to sell parts of their land to pay their fees. The Peralta family lost a lot of land due to fees and taxes. [The] informality of Mexican land grants made legal claims difficult when miners, squatters, and homesteaders overran Californios' lands, as the transcript of the legal challenge United States vs. Mariano G. Vallejo makes clear. shown here. In the case, filed on May 31, 1852, Vallejo claimed ownership of 66,622.17 acres in Sonoma County, at Petaluma and near Sonoma. He finally won the case in 1874, 22 years later. Even when Californio families won legal title to their lands, many found themselves bankrupt from attorney's fees or taxes. The Peralta family lost all but 700 of their 49,000 acres in the East Bay (encompassing the present-day cities of San Leandro, Alameda, Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville, Berkeley, and Albany) to lawyers, taxes, squatters, and speculators. Critical Thinking: In regards to the Californios, how did the U.S. government violate the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and why? Californios were guaranteed their land and citizenship after the Mexican American War in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, but due to the high demand of land because of the California Gold Rush and farming, Californios were forced to prove that they owned their land. If they could not, then they lost their land, which many had in their families for years. Lesson Focus Question: How did Mexican Diseños and land grant court cases of the 1840s and 1850s impact the Californios as they gained United States citizenship? The Mexican Diseños and land grant cases of the 1840s and 1850s impacted the Californios as they gained United States citizenship because. Specifically, (include evidence from the text above to support your claim) (Answers will vary). In Conclusion, (include your reasoning of your claim)
Last Unit Native Peoples/ Jackson and the Removal Spanish Outpost -Conquistadors and Spain expanding its empire -Missions and the Mission System -Junípero Serra - Spanish vs. Native Peoples -Presidios and Soldiers - Settlers and Pueblos -Land Grants from the Spanish Empire Spanish Era Writing Prompt How did the mission system transform California from isolated native tribes to empire outpost? Unit Map Current Unit California in Transition The transition of California from Spanish outpost to statehood Mexican Rule -Independence from Spain -Closing of the Missions -Mexican Land Grants -Ease -Diseño Mexican Ranchos - Cattle -50,000 Acres -Social Life -Women and Indians Mexican Rule Writing Prompt How did the Mexican land grant process greatly increase the population of Alta California and what were the consequences? Next Unit California Gold Rush/ Westward Expansion Statehood -Mexican Control Weakens -Far from Capital - Settlers - Poor local control -Mexican American War -Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - Questions over Landownership -Consequences of Diseños Statehood Writing Prompt How do the Diseños reveal failure of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to be accurately enforced? Focus Question (for the unit): How did California change as it moved from Spanish outpost to United States statehood? Teaching Thesis (answer to the FQ): Thinking Skills Cause and Consequence Key Vocabulary Diseño Rancho Rancheros Mission System Presidio Pueblo Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo