From Wilderness to Empire

By Robert Glass Cleland

This book covers the history of California from 1542 to 1900.  The author discusses the early explorers such as Cabrillo, Drake and Vizcaino and how the struggle for hegemony on the seas by Great Britain and Spain affected the settlement of California.  These countries as well as Russia and France had their eyes on California and prompted Spain to colonize its far-flung empire.  Both Great Britain and Spain believed there was a “Northwest Passage” that would allow northern European countries to enter the Pacific Ocean and disrupt Spain’s lucrative trade with Asia.

Great Britain was in a favorable position, once they defeated the French and acquired Canada.  They believed in their manifest destiny to control the vast Canadian territory all the way to the Pacific coast, claiming all the land from Alaska to the California border.  Russia pulled out of California since they were overextended, ultimately selling Alaska to the United States.

To counter this interest in California, Spain sent overland expeditions into California, first led by Portola (who gave us the place name “Puente”), then the de Anza expeditions that brought families into California.  A short time later a few Americans came west.  Initially these were trappers who were not interested in settlements.  Also arriving were Americans and Europeans who settled as part of the sea trade with Hawaii and Asia.

The Spanish settlers differed from their counterparts from Europe who settled North America.  Spanish settlers were more apt intermarry with the native Americans, although a distinct caste system was enforced in New Spain.  European immigrants to California intermarried with Californios and reaped the benefit of strategic marriages and the inheritance of land.

California’s splendid isolation finally gave way as gold was discovered and folks from around the world arrived changing California forever.  At first these changes affected only northern California as southern California remained tied to its Mexican heritage.  The transformation of southern California occurred with the completion of the railroad and land boom of the 1880’s.  This book provides an excellent background source for the Homestead Museum docent.