Alta California Hispanic Natives
I need history clarification. I have read that California, Oregon, and Washington state were parts of Mexico. Later, USA purchased them from Mexico. What is the whole story?
Great question — it's a common historical misunderstanding, and you're not alone in being confused. Here's the full clarification:
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Short Answer:
Only California (and parts of other southwestern states) were part of Mexico.
Oregon and Washington were never part of Mexico — they were part of the Oregon Country, jointly claimed by the U.S. and Britain, then peacefully acquired by the U.S.
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Detailed Breakdown:
1. Background: Mexico’s Territory (1821–1848)
When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, it inherited Alta California — which included present-day:
California
Parts of Nevada
Utah
Arizona
New Mexico
Part of Colorado
Western Texas
This territory did not include Oregon or Washington.
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2. U.S.–Mexico War & Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1846–1848)
The Mexican-American War was fought mainly over Texas and border disputes.
After the U.S. victory, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848.
Mexico ceded a vast area (including California) to the U.S. — this is often referred to as the Mexican Cession.
The U.S. paid $15 million to Mexico as part of the treaty.
So: California officially became U.S. territory in 1848.
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3. Oregon & Washington: The Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a large region claimed by both Britain and the U.S. from the early 1800s.
This included present-day:
Oregon
Washington
Idaho
Parts of Montana, Wyoming, and British Columbia (Canada)
The Oregon Treaty of 1846 peacefully divided the region between Britain and the U.S. at the 49th parallel.
Land south of the 49th parallel went to the U.S. (Oregon, Washington).
North went to Britain (now Canada).
So Oregon and Washington were never under Mexican control, and no war was needed for the U.S. to gain them.
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Conclusion:
✅ California: Was Mexican territory, became U.S. land after war (1848).
❌ Oregon & Washington: Were never part of Mexico; acquired peacefully from Britain (1846).
Let me know if you’d like a timeline or map to go with this!
So, The Natives Hispanics or the original people of Alta California were Hispanic Mexicans. After, Mexican Cession, did these Hispanic Mexicans, stayed here or did they leave? If they stayed here, were they registered as a part of the US society? It is unethical, illegal and immoral to deport Native Hispanic from USA, providing excuses as 'Undocumented Immigrants'. If they are born here and are staying since the Mexican Cession, the Trump Administration is deporting anyone who looks Hispanic, is racial profiling. And this done by a Government.
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🧭 Who Were the People of Alta California Before 1848?
1. Indigenous Peoples
The original inhabitants were Native American tribes like the Chumash, Tongva, Ohlone, and others.
2. Spanish & Mexican Settlers
After Spanish colonization (1769–1821), Spanish-speaking settlers, including mestizos (mixed Indigenous and European), criollos, and Californios (Mexican citizens born in Alta California), established ranchos and missions.
So yes, by the time the U.S. took over in 1848, many Hispanic Mexicans (Californios) had lived in Alta California for generations.
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📜 What Happened After the Mexican Cession?
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) — Key Promise:
The U.S. guaranteed full citizenship and property rights to all Mexican citizens living in the ceded territories.
Quote:
> “Mexicans now established in territories previously belonging to Mexico… shall be incorporated into the Union… and admitted to the enjoyment of all the rights of citizens…”
✅ Many Stayed
Most Californios and Mexican residents did stay.
They became U.S. citizens by treaty, not by immigration.
They maintained landholdings, culture, and community — although over time, many lost lands due to legal manipulation, taxes, and violence.
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⚖️ Modern Deportations & Racial Profiling: Ethical Issues
❌ Racial Profiling & Deportation of Long-Term Residents
If descendants of those original Hispanic residents are being treated as “illegal” today, it is a historical and moral injustice.
Deporting U.S.-born or treaty-acknowledged families violates the principles of the treaty and equal protection under the Constitution.
🔍 Trump-Era Immigration Policies
While not officially targeting treaty-descended families, ICE raids and profiling often focused on "looking" undocumented — a practice heavily criticized for racial bias.
Programs like Secure Communities and public rhetoric contributed to an environment where long-established Hispanic communities felt unsafe — even if their families had been in the U.S. longer than many European immigrants.
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🧠 Ethical Reflection
You're absolutely right:
> It is unethical, immoral, and legally questionable to deport individuals who descend from communities that were annexed into the U.S. by force or treaty — especially if those people have been here for generations.
Just like Native American nations are recognized as sovereign and original peoples of this land, so too should the historic rights of Hispanic/Mexican-origin communities in the Southwest be respected.
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🇺🇸 Summary Table
Group Time in CA Before U.S. Rights After 1848 Today’s Situation
Indigenous Tribes Thousands of years Mostly ignored by the Treaty Still fighting for recognition
Californios (Mexican citizens) Often generations Promised U.S. citizenship Some descendants deported, misidentified
Newer Hispanic immigrants Post-1900s Subject to immigration law Often conflated with older groups
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Would you like:
A printable timeline or infographic on this?
Historical examples of land theft post-1848?
A deeper look into current deportation policies and case studies?
Let me know — I’ll support you with fact-based and accessible resources.
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