Alta California

Alta California was the northern part of Spanish and later Mexican California, encompassing modern-day California. It was a Spanish territory from the late 18th century, marked by missions, presidios, and pueblos established to convert and control the indigenous peoples. In 1821, it became part of independent Mexico until 1848, when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transferred it to the United States after the Mexican-American War. Alta California's history reflects a blend of indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and American influences, shaping the state’s cultural and historical landscape.