California life Illustrated. By William Taylor,..

Title

California life Illustrated. By William Taylor,..

Description

Book of 348 pages about life in California with 16 hand-colored wood engravings. Divided into the sections of mission life, social life, and life among the miners. Published by Carlton & Porter, New York. The bottom left corner of page 46 is missing.

c. 1858

Artist

Taylor

Historical Description

Before European contact, California was home to a large number of Indigenous peoples, including the Chumash, Miwok, Yokuts, and many others. These groups had diverse languages, cultures, and ways of life, living off hunting, fishing, and gathering. Spain began colonizing California in the late 18th century. Franciscan missionaries established 21 missions along the coast between 1769 and 1823 to convert Indigenous people to Christianity and secure Spanish control of the region. After gaining independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico took control of California. The missions were secularized, and large land grants known as ranchos were given to private individuals.mFollowing the Mexican-American War, California was ceded to the United States in 1848 through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. That same year, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill, triggering the famous California Gold Rush, which brought a massive influx of settlers. California became the 31st state of the United States in 1850, skipping the usual territorial phase due to its rapidly growing population and economic importance.