Under the Mexican Republic California en joyed virtual autonomy. and after 1840 its in dependence was seen to be inevitable. A silent conflict arose between those who favored ultimate annexation to the United States and the large class of property-owners who were inclined to favor the establishment of a British protectorate. In the southern part of the State, Larkin, the United States consul. was secretly endeavoring to stir up a revolt against Mexico and to bring about the extension of the jurisdiction of the I'nited States over the country. But before his schemes had attained full maturity, a rising of the American settlers in northern California took place. On June 14, 1846, a small party of Americans, aided by John C. FrCmiont, who was then in California at the head of an exploring ex pedition. seized the town of Sonoma, raised the Bear Flag, and on the fourth of July proclaimed the independence of California. Commodore Sloat, acting under orders from the United States Government, which was then preparing to go to war with Mexico, seized Monterey and Ycrha Buena (San Francisco), and the conquest of the country was eompleted by Commodore t...tockton. Colonel Fr6mont. and Cameral Kear ney. On August 15. 1846. California was de clared a Territory of the United States.
The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, near Coloma. on January 24, 1848, gave an impetus to immigration from all parts of the globe. The great body of gold-seekers. 'the Argonauts; ar rived in 1849, and by the end of the year the population exceeded 100.000. Nearly the newcomers were unmarried men, in haste to get rich. Bence the organization of an authorita tive body. responsible for public order, was neg lected or hindered by the influx of lawless charac ters. There ensued reckless speculation, extrava gaut living, and easy-going morality in many localities. Stable elements, however, were not wanting—the mining camps had stringent laws of theif own, and lynch law was resorted to in many quarters. Life and property, however, wire not well secured. The people were heavily taxed without representation. and though San Francisco had been made a port of entry and United States customs laws had been extended over the country, no Territorial government had been granted. On November 13. 1849, after sev eral unsueeessful attempts at State-making, a constitution, in which slavery was prohibited, was adopted by the people, and on September 9, 1850, California entered the Union. (For na tional events connected with the State's admis see STATES, and COMPROMISE 11EAS uREs.) In 1851 the citizens of San Francisco formed a vigilance committee to ('heck lawless ness in that city. The committee tried offenders,
banished and hanged at its discretion, and per formed its duties so efficiently that in 1856 it was reorganized to meet a new outburst of pub lie disorder and official corruption. When the Civil War broke out, California, which was thought to be contemplating secession, was ex empted from furnishing troops. The Union party. however, was dominant, and contributed nearly 81.500,000 to the Federal Govermuent, and sent five companies of volunteers into the field.
Since the Civil War California has experi enced a magnificent economic development. The completion of the Union Pacific Railroad fur thered the prosperity of the State. Both from the Eastern States and from across the Pacific the tide of immigration flowed in steadily. So considerable, indeed, did the number of Chinese immigrants become that between 1870 and 1890 the Chinese question dominated State politics and influenced national legislation. In the min ing districts the Chinese occupied claims which had been abandoned as exhausted by their origi nal proprietors, or acted as cooks and menial servants. In the towns they performed various duties. Their stolid patience and their capacity for long and sustained work made them in one way ideal laborers for the development of a new country; but their extreme frugality and their willingness to work for a small wage made them formidable competitors of white labor. (See ('itlxEst: IMMIGRATION.) In 1878 and 1879 Den nis (q.v.). a gifted agitator, taking ad vantage of the discontent prevailing among the lower classes of San Francisco, owing chiefly to the question of Chinese immigration, organ ized the Workingmen's Party, which for a short time controlled State politics and brought into being the present Constitution of California, with its many rallical features. The conflict between the mining and agricultural interests over the utilization of the natural water-power of the State was removed in a great measure by pro longed and elaborate legislation on the subjects of mineral debris and drainage. In 1887 a com prehensive system of irrigation was begun, which has yielded great results. The Cali fornia International Midwinter Exposition, held at San Francisco in 1894, served to illustrate the progress and prosperity of the State. Before ISO California was Democratic in national poli ties. Since that date it has been Republican, with the exception of the years 1880 and 1892.
In State elections California has changed from Democratic to Republican repeatedly on local issues. The trend and change of politics in California may be gathered front the following list of Governors of the State: