Las Californias

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Map of Mexico with Las Californias united territory in 1847, when Mexico held the northern portions (California, Nevada, Oregon, New Mexico, and Arizona excluding Texas).

Las Californias is a name given in the past to the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur in Mexico and the state of California in the United States.

Originally the California region was discovered by the pilot navigator Fortún Jiménez who guided Hernán Cortés.

[edit] History

After Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed in the Pacific Ocean in 1542 following the coast of the Baja California peninsula (beyond 40° North latitude), he named the discovered territory Nueva California (New California) as opposed to Vieja California (Old California) whose the coasts had already been sailed and explored.

The first Las Californias city, where Spanish was spoken, was in Loreto (presently Loreto, Baja California Sur) which became the first capital of the territory. Nowadays, the capital city of California is Sacramento; Baja California's capital is Mexicali and Baja California Sur's is La Paz.

Coat of Arms of Loreto, Baja California Sur which depicts Loreto as the Capital Histórica de Las Californias, (Historical Capital of Las Californias).

[edit] Colonization

The missions colonizing period began during the 17th century and ended shortly after the independence of Mexico in 1821. The territories were divided between Alta and Baja California. Alta California included the present states of Oregon and Nevada until control of the missions was given to Francisco Palou (upon Junípero Serra's departure in 1773) and was located in the present popululated Playas de Rosarito, to 25 km of the present U.S.-Mexico border. That border served to divide the misionales territories of Dominican Franciscanos (Franciscan establishments) and, after the expulsion of the Jesuitas missionaries (see Jesuit missions) in 1768.

[edit] Division

As a result of the Mexican–American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico lost Alta California (California, Nevada and Oregon). Mexico had to reorganize the territory Baja peninsula into the North Part (El Norte) and the South Part (El Sur). Both districts in time would receive the names of Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur. Eventually each territory would become part of Mexican state system (Estados Unidos Mexicanos).