California Dreamin'...of being Mexico? A Historical Whodunit (and Taco Mystery)
Ah, California. Land of sunshine, surf, and...tacos? Hold on a sec, those delicious parcels of heaven wrapped in a warm tortilla might have a more interesting backstory than you think. Because it turns out, a big chunk of California used to be Mexico.
The Great State Heist (Kind Of)
No, it wasn't exactly Ocean's Eleven sneaking across the border with a giant lasso. But rewind the clock a couple hundred years, and things get a little fuzzy. California was originally part of Spain's giant colonial empire. Then, in 1821, Mexico threw a "hasta la vista, baby" party to Spain and became independent. guess what came along for the ride? Alta California, which is basically all the land north of the Baja peninsula. So, bam! Instant Mexican territory.
The Not-So-Smooth Transition: Gringos, Missions, and a Whole Lot of Questions
Being so far away from Mexico City, Alta California was a bit like a rebellious teenager with a surfboard. There weren't many folks there, and the ones who were there weren't exactly following all the rules Mexico was laying down. American settlers started trickling in, drawn by the golden sunshine and the whisper of easy money (thanks to the missions with their vast lands). This land grab led to some serious tensions, like a mission barbeque where everyone forgot the chips and salsa and just went straight for the territory.
The Delicious Conclusion: How We Got Our Cali-Mexican Fusion Fix
Then, in 1846, things got spicy. The Mexican-American War kicked off, and let's just say it didn't end well for Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 drew some new lines on the map, and California officially became part of the United States.
So, there you have it! The next time you bite into a carne asada burrito, remember – you're not just enjoying a delicious meal, you're experiencing a bit of California's wild past. A past where missions may have served tacos (unofficially, of course) and the border patrol rode horses instead of trucks.
Who knows, maybe someday we'll see a "California was once Mexico" t-shirt on the Venice Beach boardwalk. Hey, if it sells next to the glow sticks and "Save the Whales" hats, why not?
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