Pacific coast of North America explored by Sir Francis Drake

 England was in conflict with Spain, Drake decided to claim the region. 

 Spanish navigator

 led an early expedition to the Baja California peninsula, meant to be coordinated with Francisco Vasquéz de Coronado's overland expedition, and for penetrating the lower Colorado River

proved to his satisfaction that no open-water passage existed between the Gulf of California and the South Sea. 

 Portuguese explorer noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America on behalf of Spain.

lead an expedition up the Pacific Coast in search of trade opportunities, perhaps to find a way to China (for the full extent of the northern Pacific was unknown) or to find the mythical Strait of Anián (or Northwest Passage) connecting the Pacific Ocean with Hudson Bay

Discovered Nova Albion & Drakes bay

general-in-charge of an expedition to locate safe harbours in Alta California for Spanish Galleons 

 first person in recorded history to note certain ecological features of the California coast 

 establishing a Spanish settlement at Monterey

Sacred Expedition

Spanish conquistadors and padres led by Capt. Gaspar Portola and Father Junipero Serra had established 9 coastal missions between present day San Diego and San Francisco.

Christianize and make Spanish citizens of the natives of Alta California

 religious and military outposts established by Spanish Catholics

convert, educate, and "civilize" the indigenous population and transforming the natives into Spanish colonial citizens.

appointed governor of the Californias new capital at Monterey

he founded the pueblo of Los Angeles.

 term used to identify a Spanish-speaking, mostly Roman Catholic people

encouraged new settlers to become Spanish and/or Mexican citizens

people responsible for the creation of the missions

 pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush

 established Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the state's capital.

Became a mexican citizen to recieve a land grant names it New Helvetica

employed Native Americans, creating an agricultural utopia

period the destination for most California-bound immigrants

 influential in the development of Yerba Buena which later became San Francisco.

was the first to receive a land grant in the city

building the first permanent civilian home and laying out the street plan for the pueblo of Yerba Buena

The Battle for Southern California

 Plaza area was the heart of Mexican community life in Los Angeles and center of an economy based upon cattle ranching and agriculture.

Plaza served as a gateway for newly arrived immigrants, especially Mexicans and Italians

Olvera street became the Olvera Street Disneyland-like center of Mexican romance and tourism.

 law made it a misdemeanor to bring into California "any indigent person who is not a resident of the State, knowing him to be an indigent person".

declared the law unconstitutional

 Workingman's Party labor organization

 aim against Chinese immigrant labor and the Central Pacific Railroad that employed them

 Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This act outlawed all Chinese immigration to the United States and denied citizenship to those already settled in the country. Renewed in 1892 and extended indefinitely in 1902

Chinese labor was indispensable to the economic prosperity of the west. The Chinese worked in mines, swamps, construction and in factories, which could be life threatening and not easy to accomplish, many jobs that the Caucasians didn't want to do was left to the Chinese.

SuperintendentWilliam Mulholland.

 delivers water from the Owens River in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains to Los Angeles, California.

effectively eliminated the Owens Valley as a viable farming community, and devastated the Owens Lake ecosystem.