Pacific Eldorado: A History of Greater California

436 Pages·2013·14.256 MB·English

by  Thomas J. Osborne

PACIFIC
ELDORADO

TH O M A S J. OSBORN E
PA C I F I C
E LD O R A D O
A HISTORY OF
GREATER C ALIFORNIA
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
This edition first published 2013
© 2013 Thomas J. Osborne
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Osborne, Thomas J., 1942–
Pacific Eldorado : a history of greater California / Thomas J. Osborne.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4051-9454-9 (hardback) – ISBN 978-1-4051-9453-2 (paperback) 1. California–
History. 2. California–History, Naval. 3. California–Commerce–Pacific Area. 4. Pacific Area–Commerce–
California. 5. California–Relations–Pacific Area. 6. Pacific Area–Relations–California. I. Title.
F861.O63 2013
979.4–dc23
2012031787
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cover image: The Big Sur coastline and Point Sur Lighthouse, California, USA. Photo
© Don Smith / Getty Images.
Cover design by Simon Levy
Set in 10/13pt Minion by Toppan Best-set Premedia Limited
1 2013
For Ginger, Brooks, Todd, and my students at Santa
Ana College – all Californians whose lives have
been shaped and enriched by living in this veritable
Pacific Eldorado

Contents
List of Illustrations xiii
Foreword xvi
Janet Fireman
Preface xviii
Acknowledgments xxi
1  Beginnings: From Fire and Ice to Indian Homeland  1
Timeline 2
Landforms 2
Climates 6
Plants and Animals 8
First Peoples and Their New Homeland 9
Tribal and Linguistic Groupings 12
Material Culture 14
Religion and Social Practices 16
Pacific Profile: Anthropologist Alfred L. Kroeber 19
The Chumash: Pacific Coast Mariners and Traders 19
Other Possible Early Voyagers to California 21
Summary 22
Review Questions 23
Further Readings 23
2  Spain’s Greater California Coast  25
Timeline 25
A Name, a Dream, a Land 27
viii    Contents
Cabrillo’s Coastal Reconnaissance 28
Globalization Begins: The Manila Galleon Trade 30
Drake, Nova Albion, and Cermeño 32
The Spanish Pacific, Vizcaíno, and Monterey 34
Colonizing California: Missions, Indians, and the Sea 35
Ranchos, Presidios, and Pueblos 42
Gender and Sexuality in a Frontier Society 44
Pacific Profile: Alejandro Malaspina, Mariner-Explorer 45
The Transpacific Fur Trade 46
Hippolyte de Bouchard’s Pirate Raids 48
Summary 50
Review Questions 50
Further Readings 51
3  A Globally Connected Mexican Province  53
Timeline 53
Mexico’s Misrule of California 55
Secularization of the Missions 56
Hides, Tallow, and Rancho Society 59
Fur Trappers 64
Early Settlers and Overland Emigrants 66
Pacific Profile: Alpheus B. Thompson, China Trader 70
“Thar She Blows:” New England Whalers 71
The Charles Wilkes Pacific Expedition 72
Summary 75
Review Questions 76
Further Readings 76
4  War and Gold: America’s West Coast Eldorado  78
Timeline 78
California and the Pacific Squadron 80
Jumping the Gun at Monterey 81
Polk, the Pacific, and the Outbreak of War 84
California and the Mexican War 88
Gold, Ships, and Wagon Trains 91
Pacific Profile: William H. Aspinwall, President of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company 95
The World Rushed In 96
Life in the Diggings 97
The Gold Rush’s International Economic Impacts 100
Summary 102
Review Questions 102
Further Readings 103