A Troubled Territory: Mexican California - Assignment Example

California was ruled by the remote Mexican government that granted land to the immigrants. The remote Mexican government developed a secular society that was distinct from the mission society. In 1834 to 1836, there were pressures from the remote Mexican government to spread their secular interests across Alta California. The secular authorities and local colonists overthrew the ownership of missions’ property and divided it among themselves. The Mexican governors had authority over granting citizenship to Indians in Mexico immediately after their independence.

In California, the Mexican governors took control over mission land from the missionaries. They issued land to Mexicans who were migrating from their native land. The ‘Mexicanization’ of California was attributable to the efforts of the Mexican governors to secularize the missions. On the other hand, the Franciscan missionaries were entrusted with mission lands from the natives. They had authority over the mission lands in which they held in trust for the Native Americans living in California at the time of their arrival.

The leading rancheros had authority over the economic development in California. In 1845, Pio Pico, a ranchero, was entrusted with the governorship of California. The leading rancheros established their authority in overseeing that California achieved.