Introduction

The early 19th century saw growing discontent in New Spain's society. Revolts started in 1810 and extended through 1821, when a revolution led to formation of the Mexican Republic. For the next 13 years Mexican soldiers served at the Presidio of San Francisco. During these years, the people of Alta California suffered as supply ships from San Blas became more erratic, and the missions and their native labor sources were forced to provide for most needs. In 1835 the Presidio was temporarily abandoned when General Mariano Vallejo transferred his military headquarters north to Sonoma. Over time, the Presidio's adobe walls slowly dissolved in the winter rains. American forces landed in 1846 and occupied the Presidio during the United States' war with Mexico. In 1848, California was transferred by treaty from Mexico to the United States.

Life goes on at the Presidio

Little changed at the Presidio through the Mexican Revolution. Its soldiers simply switched allegiance to Mexico. The Presidio was still a poorly supplied outpost far from the central government in Mexico City. By the 1820s, the Presidio community had expanded outside of the walled plaza built by the Spanish. Farmsteads were constructed to the south, in a small spring-fed creek valley by the trail to the mission. Here, near El Polin Spring, Marcos Briones and the Miramontes family constructed homes. It is also said that Russian sailors constructed a timber house nearby for Juana Briones, who was a successful landowner, businesswoman, rancher and healer during the Mexican and early American periods (1830s-1880s). A 19-year-old Russian lieutenant on the frigate Cruiser provided the following account of life at the Presidio in the 1820s:

"...as the danger of attack from savages diminished or, at least, came to affect only the more remote missions, they began to permit outside buildings at the presidios, and as a result it became necessary to make passageways through the heretofore blank outer wall. Lately even Russian expeditions have had bakeries attached to the outer wall for the baking of both fresh bread and extra rusks for a cruise. This is how San Francisco's presidio became a rather formless pile of half-ruined dwellings, sheds, storehouses, and other structures. The floors, of course, were everywhere of stone or dirt, and not only stoves but also fireplaces were lacking in the living quarters. Whatever had to be boiled or fried was prepared in the open air, mostly on cast bricks; they warmed themselves against the cold air over hot coals in pots or braziers." - Dmitry Zavalishin, 1823-1824

Impacts on the Native Population

Military control of native groups grew as they resisted the increased demands for production placed on them by the missions. When local populations dwindled at the missions, additional tribes (Coast Miwok, Yokuts, Pomo, Sierra Miwok, Salinan) were gathered, mixed, and consolidated into dense communities. Under these conditions, native cultures disintegrated and new diseases quickly spread, causing many deaths.

In 1828, Estanislao, a Yokut alcalde [mayor] of the native population at Mission San Jose, led a major revolt. He left the Mission, taking hundreds of followers with him to the San Joaquin Valley, where he fortified his village with a stockade. Estanislao defeated the first expedition from the Presidio, but in 1829, Lieutenant Mariano Vallejo took the village with cannon fire and soldiers from San Francisco and Monterey. Few rebels survived, but Estanislao escaped and was later pardoned.

"We are rising in revolt...we have no fear of the soldiers, for even now there are very few, mere boys." - Estanislao, 1828

After the breakup of the missions during the Mexican period, native people could not return to their former lands because they were now mostly ranches, and their cultures were largely destroyed. Many of the remaining Ohlone found work as vaqueros [cowboys] and servants on the Mexican ranchos and in towns.

Emergence of the Californio Culture

The rising value of Alta California's seal and sea otter furs, and the potential profit from cattle hides and tallow, provided what was left of colonial society in California an economic opportunity. To develop this opportunity, Mexico opened its ports to foreign trade in 1821, and the Russian American Company, Hudson's Bay Company, Boston traders and others arrived for business. From this economic change, a society known as Californio arose. The Mexican government also divided the mission lands and gave them away as land grants. Many former Presidio soldiers and other Mexican citizens established huge cattle and horse ranchos. People with land and cattle became rich and had a high style of life during this period.

Resources

For more information on the Mexican period at the Presidio see:

Langelier, J.P., and Rosen, D.B., 1992. El Presidio de San Francisco: A History under Spain and Mexico, 1776-1846