Vallejo Created The Towns Of Petaluma And Santa

Vallejo Created The Towns Of Petaluma And Santa

Vallejo created the towns of Petaluma and Santa Rosa primarily to thwart efforts in California by this country: A- Russia. B- France. C- Great Britain. D- the United States.

Under Figueroa’s plan for secularizing the missions, mission lands and properties were to be given to A- soldiers. B- leaders of powerful families. C- the Mexican government. D- neophytes.

Of the following groups, which was lowest on the class hierarchy of Mexican California? A- Pobladores B- Civil officials C- Rancheros D- Leading merchants.

Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of the new system created by the 1824 Mexican constitution? A- Territories ruled by the Mexican Congress B- Well-educated voters C- Territorial governors appointed by the Mexican government D- Democratic governance.

Mexican California’s economy depended primarily upon A- the output of the ranchos and pueblos. B- the value of beaver pelts sold by mountain men. C- the hide-and-tallow trade. D- the output of the missions.

Under Governor Echeandàa, the seat of colonial government in California was in this city: A- Monterey B- San Diego. C- San José. D- Los Angeles.

Rancho San Pedro was located near present-day A- Los Angeles. B- San Diego. C- Santa Barbara. D- San Luis Obispo.

Monterey and Los Angeles grew rapidly after 1822 primarily because they A- were well-protected from Indian raids. B- had efficient governing systems. C- were important centers of the hide-and-tallow trade. D- had adequate water supplies.

Which of the following was NOT a port involved in the hide-and-tallow trade of Mexican California? A- Monterey B- San Diego C- Los Angeles D- Eureka.

Which two countries dominated the shipping of hides and tallow from California? A- Holland and Great Britain B- United States and Great Britain C- Russia and the United States D- Spain and Mexico.

Transactions between American hide-and-tallow ships and California locals used this as currency: A- the American dollar. B- cow hides. C- the Mexican peso. D- the British pound.

Which one of these governors served last? A- Solà B- Figueroa C- Victoria D- Echeandàa.

The main product of ranchos was A- cattle B- sheep C- wine D- wheat.

Which group was at the bottom of the class hierarchy of Mexican California? A- Vaqueros B- Mestizo rancheros C- Indians D- Pobladores.

Governor Victoria’s rule ended when A- he was assassinated. B- he died of natural causes. C- he was recalled from office by the Mexican government. D- he was confronted with a revolt in southern California.

In what year did Mexican authorities become aware that American mountain men were in California? A- 1816 B- 1826 C- 1836 D- 1846.

Governor Echeandàa put MOST of his attention on dealing with A- putting down revolts from local elites. B- secularization of the missions and other Indian affairs. C- enriching himself at the expense of Natives. D- trade matters, especially hides and tallow.

Which of the following groups benefited MOST from desecularization? A- Neophytes B- Soldiers C- Gentiles D- Rancheros.

Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of Governor Alvarado’s tenure? A- Major political unrest B- Importance of hide-and-tallow trade C- Completion of secularization D- Acceleration of the rancho economy.

The rich and elaborate life of the ranchero depended MOST upon A- military protection from Indian raids. B- cheap Indian labor. C- fertile soil for farming. D- advanced agricultural technology.

Which of the following types of young people were most likely to get an education in Mexican California? A- Sons of pobladores B- All young males had compulsory public education. C- Sons of military members D- Sons of rancheros.

Which American mountain man showed up at Mission San Gabriel to the consternation of Governor Echeandàa? A- Jim Beckwourth B- Jim Bridger C- John Colter D- Jedediah Smith.

Spanish and Mexican land grants were most heavily concentrated A- in the deserts of southeastern California. B- near the coast from San Diego to San Francisco. C- in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. D- in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The towns of Petaluma and Santa Rosa in California owe their origins largely to the strategic efforts of Vallejo, who sought to establish these settlements primarily to counteract influence from foreign powers, notably France and Great Britain, with the ultimate aim of strengthening American interests in the region. Vallejo’s instrumental role in California’s early development highlights the broader geopolitical contest during the 19th century, where local leaders endeavored to secure their communities against external threats through territorial foundation and economic expansion.

The secularization policies under Figueroa represented a significant transformation in California’s mission system. The plan aimed to redistribute mission lands and properties to Mexican authorities, specifically to soldiers and influential families, rather than to the indigenous populations or neophytes, who traditionally held roles within the mission structure. These reforms intended to diminish the mission system's influence, fostering a more secular and privatized landholding pattern that contributed to California’s evolving social and economic landscape.

Within the class hierarchy of Mexican California, the lowest strata comprised the indigenous populations and the initial settlers, the pobladore. Rancheros, civil officials, and leading merchants occupied higher positions, reflecting a structured society where economic power and political influence were concentrated among landowning elites and established authorities. The class distinctions underscored the social stratification that persisted through California’s transition from indigenous societies to a Mexican provincial society and eventually to American statehood.

The Mexican constitution of 1824 introduced a new political system characterized by territorial divisions governed by Mexico’s federal authority, with regions ruled by local governors appointed by the Mexican government and well-educated voters participating in governance. However, it deviated from purely democratic principles, as the appointment of governors and the governance structure often retained centralist influences, limiting local autonomy. This constitutional framework laid the groundwork for California’s political organization during the Mexican period and influenced subsequent governance practices.

Economically, Mexican California relied heavily on the ranchos and pueblos, with the cattle and sheep ranching operations forming the backbone of the regional economy. The ranching lifestyle, centered on cattle, was central to the region’s exports, especially hides and tallow, which constituted significant trade commodities with external markets. The missions also played a role in the economy, primarily through the production of materials that supported the ranchos and local settlements.

Governor Echeandàa’s leadership positioned Monterey as the central seat of colonial governance, emphasizing its strategic importance in administration and commerce. Monterey’s growth during this period was driven by its role as a hub for trade, military, and governance activities, which facilitated the expansion of California’s settlements and economic development.

Rancho San Pedro, located near present-day Los Angeles, exemplifies the land grant system’s influence on California’s geographic and economic development. These large landholdings served as centers of agricultural productivity, supporting the emergence of a ranchero class that played an influential role in regional politics and society. Similarly, the rapid growth of Monterey and Los Angeles after 1822 was fueled by their roles as vital trade centers involved in the hide-and-tallow trade, which connected California to international markets, particularly with foreign powers such as Great Britain and the United States.

Trade in California was predominantly routed through key ports including Monterey, San Diego, and Los Angeles, although Eureka was not involved in this commerce. The international shipping of hides and tallow was dominated primarily by American and British vessels, which used cow hides as currency in local transactions, reflecting the informal and fluctuating monetary system in place during that era.

The political landscape was shaped by prominent governors such as Figueroa, Victoria, and Echeandàa, with Figueroa and Victoria serving at different times, and Victoria’s rule ending due to political upheaval and eventual recall. The primary commodity produced on ranchos was cattle, supporting the robust cattle economy that underpinned California’s export-oriented society. Indians occupied the lowest ranks of the social hierarchy, subject to various forms of labor and social marginalization.

During the early years of Mexican California, authorities became increasingly aware of the presence of American mountain men, such as Jim Bowhiss and Jim Bridger, who were exploring and trading within the region, often causing concern among officials like Governor Echeandàa. Land grants were most heavily concentrated along the coast from San Diego to San Francisco and in the Sierra Nevada foothills, indicating the strategic and economic importance of these regions during the Mexican era.

References

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• Johnson, S. (2020). Mexican California: Society and Economy. University of Arizona Press.
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