Alta California

Alta California ("Upper California") was formed in 1804 when the Spanish colony of California, then a part of New Spain, was divided in two along the line separating the Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican missions in the south. The southern part became Baja California. Alta California was recognized as one of the constituent territories of the newly independent United Mexican States with the adoption of the 1824 Constitution following its War of Independence and short-lived First Empire. During the Mexican-American War of 1846-48 and following the brief interlude of the proclaimed independent California Republic, Alta California was successfully invaded by the United States. \nThe territory was ceded to the U.S. under the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and it was admitted to that nation's Union as the state of California in 1850. The last Mexican Governor of California was Pío Pico, who served until 1846.

See also

\n* Spanish colonization of the Americas\n* History of California Category:California history