Californios

Spanish Period

The Spanish settlement of California started in 1769 with the establishment of San Diego de Alcalá—the first of the 21 missions set up in California. Apart from the missions and four presidios (military forts) under Spanish rule, only three official civil pueblos (towns) were founded: present-day San José and Los Angeles, and the Villa de Branciforte (Santa Cruz). During the Spanish period relatively few land grants were given to individuals.

The society of colonial Mexico was hierarchically organized, with a division between the gente de razón [people of reason] (Catholic Spaniards) and the gente sin razón [people without reason] (non-Christian Indios). The pure [Spanish] blood [limpieza de sangre] was of much importance; however, many were, in fact, mestizo. Racial categories were relatively flexible and by the late 18th century “Spaniard” also included people of mixed blood born in the Americas. Apart from race, wealth was also one of the factors that defined social status. The wealthy kept apart from the gente corriente [working-class people].

Important elements of the Spanish culture in the then scarcely populated region were the Catholic faith, family loyalty, patriarchy, hospitality, community fiestas, folk music, and dances. Other customs included, for example, bullfights and horse racing. It was in this period that vaqueros [cattle herders on horseback] appeared in California. This pattern later spread and—adapted by the Anglos—evolved into the American cowboy.

The Mexican Period

Independence from Spain transformed California from a predominantly clerical province to a pastoral economy. The secularization process led to the redistribution of the mission lands, which passed largely into the hands of Californio families, while the wealthiest rancheros controlled vast lands. Ranchos prospered and cattle raising was vital.

Under Mexican rule, the existing social patterns remained largely unchanged. Although the Spanish racial casta system was abolished in 1824, Californio elites still maintained the racial-ethnic hierarchy, and intermarried within their group or with Anglo and European settlers in California. Family and patriarchy retained their important roles. Among the political Californio leaders who emerged in this period were, for example, Mariano Vallejo, José Antonio Carrillo, and the Pico brothers. By 1848, probably around 7,000 people considered themselves Californios.

After the Annexation

Annexation by the United States brought profound changes to California's legal and economic systems, while the Gold Rush changed its demographic and cultural profile. Whereas in 1848 Spanish-speaking people constituted approximately a half of the 15,000 inhabitants of the region, in 1850, when California acquired statehood, this population accounted for less than 20 percent. Many Californios themselves left their ranchos and headed toward the diggings, which also contributed to the gradual decline of the Californio community.

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