The Californios

There is a question you may ask: Why did the Californios go west, into California?There were a few reasons for the movement west. Junipero Serra, a Spanish missionary, had led preists and soliders to california, to convert the native indians to christianity.Serra also built missions from San Fransisco to San Diego. The missionaries, despite meaning good, were actually deadly to the indians, by spreading diseases and treating them harshly. After that, settlers moved in. Guadelupe Vallejo quoted "We were pioneers of the Pacific coast, building Pueblos and Missions while George Washington was carrying on the war of the war of the revolution". Another event happened in 1821, Mexican independence. The new Mexican government closed the Missions in 1833, and Mexico devised a new land-grant system, giving Californios (Spanish-speaking Californians) a "rancho", which was 50000 acres plus. Ranching could prosper because the Missions were closed. Most families on ranchos lived in adobe houses, with floors made of dirt. Another reason for moving west was trading. Cattle ranching was the biggest industry in California. Cattle fat was tallow, and was traded for other goods by ship. Richard Henry Dana, an American sailor, carried goods such as sugar, tea, coffee, raisins, spices, molasses, dishes, cutlery, hardware, cutlery, jewelry, and clothing on his ship. the gold rush also occured in 1849.