Californios

E38590

Californios were Spanish-speaking, often Mexican-descended residents of early California who held significant social, political, and landowning influence before and during the region’s transition to U.S. rule.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Spanish-speaking community
historical ethnic group
countryOfOrigin Mexico
Spain
culturalIdentity distinct regional Mexican identity in Alta California
demographicChange became a minority in California after the Gold Rush
economicActivity cattle ranching
hide and tallow trade
ethnicity Mexican
Spanish
experienced decline of political power after statehood
loss of land after U.S. annexation
hasCulturalPractice Californio music and dance
fiesta celebrations
vaquero horsemanship traditions
heritage criollo Spanish traditions in the Americas
indigenous Californian influences
influenced California Spanish architecture
California cuisine
California place names
California ranching culture
languageShift from Spanish to English under U.S. rule
legalStatus Mexican citizens before 1848
United States citizens after 1848
locatedInTimePeriod Mexican period in California
Spanish colonial period in California
early American period in California
location Alta California
California
mainResidenceType adobe houses
ranchos
notableCenter Los Angeles
Monterey
San Diego
Santa Barbara
partOf Californio ranchero society
relatedGroup Hispanos of New Mexico
Neomexicanos
Tejanos
religion Roman Catholicism
rightsGuaranteedBy Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
significantEvent California Gold Rush
Mexican War of Independence
Mexican–American War
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
socialRole landowning elite in California
political elite in California
ranchero class
usedLanguage Spanish

Referenced by (5)

Please wait…