Episode 2

Vocabulary

History

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Episode 2: Facts

Statehood, the Gold Rush, and the Map

California Statehood

The Compromise of 1850:

  • California admitted as a free state

  • Strengthened fugitive slave laws

  • Slavery allowed but the slave trade banned in Washington, D.C.

  • Texas borders were defined

  • Created territories of New Mexico and Utah, with no statement on their slavery stance

Pro-slavery vs. Anti-slavery in California:

  • California initially had pro-slavery sympathies, particularly in Southern California and Los Angeles.

  • David Broderick, rising immigrant politician, was staunchly against slavery, causing a major rift in the California Democratic Party.

  • His death as a martyr for the cause helped rally anti-slavery forces to victory in California.

Proposals to Divide California:

  • Proposals considered splitting California into two or even three states.

  • These proposals were meant to address the slavery question.

California's Anti-Fugitive Slave Laws:

  • California enacted laws to protect slave-owners even though admitted as a free state.

  • These laws were in place even prior to the Compromise of 1850 passage

The Gold Rush

Discovery of Gold:

  • James Marshall discovered gold in the American River on January 24th, 1848, at Sutter's Mill.

Global Impact:

  • Approximately 300,000 people flocked to California from around the world in search of riches

  • Included significant migration from Mexico, South America, Europe, and China.

Routes to California:

  • Overland routes were dangerous and harsh but were more direct.

  • Sea routes offered different hazards, such as traversing the southern tip of South America or traversing the disease-ridden Isthmus of Panama.

Boomtowns:

  • Makeshift towns and settlements sprang up quickly in the Sierra Nevada foothills to serve gold prospectors.

Economic Effects:

  • Merchants and those providing services often fared better financially than the miners themselves.

  • The population influx spurred rapid growth in cities like Los Angeles.

Los Angeles & the Ord Survey

Los Angeles in 1850:

  • The young city lacked basic infrastructure and services.

The Need for a Map:

  • Unregulated and overlapping property lines hindered city growth and revenue generation.

Lieutenant Edward Ord:

  • Respected surveyor from the US Army offered to create a map of Los Angeles.

  • His map, with named streets on a grid system, brought order to the city.

Post-Map Regulations:

  • New city ordinances improved public health and order.

  • Land sales from the map brought in revenue to stimulate Los Angeles' growth.