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37-683: In 1772, Francisco Palóu was tasked with establishing a boundary between the Franciscan and Dominican orders in the Californias. The boundary between the Dominican Baja California missions and the Franciscan missions of Alta California was set in 1773. Palou erected a large cross on a rock called "Mesa del Descanso", which would mark the latitude towards the Colorado River, establishing

74-713: A collective term for Alta California and the Baja California peninsula . Originally a single, vast entity within the Spanish Empire , administration was split into Baja California ( Lower California ) and Alta California ( Upper California ) following the Mexican War of Independence . As a part of the Mexican–American War (1846–48), the Conquest of California saw the vast Alta California territory ceded from Mexico to

111-513: A location where Mission Santa Cruz was later founded by Fermín Lasuén , in 1791. Palou returned to Lobos in 1776 with the De Anza expedition and, on June 28, offered up the first mass at the future site of Mission Dolores , which Palóu founded but a few weeks later. Palóu remained at the new mission until he was called to give his mentor and close friend, Junípero Serra, his last rites in 1784 at Mission San Carlos. With Serra's death, Palóu became

148-750: A mentor/student relationship with Junípero Serra , they both eagerly joined the Spanish mission system in Alta California . They, along with several other missionaries, reached Veracruz , New Spain in 1749. Palóu worked in New Spain for many in missions such as Sierra Gorda. He was later recalled, along with Serra, to work in the San Saba region of Texas . However, the biggest part of Palóu's journey would not begin until 1767, when he and fourteen other Franciscan friars were sent north to extend their efforts and replace many of

185-682: A missionary in the Sierra Gorda region of Querétaro . When the Jesuits were expelled from Baja California in 1768, the Franciscans under Serra were sent to replace them. Palóu was assigned to the mission of San Javier . The following year, Serra went north to find the new mission province of Alta California, and Palóu succeeded him as head of the Baja California missions. When the Dominicans took over

222-603: A missionary of the Spanish colonization of the Americas , Palóu traveled and proselytized in the Spanish colonial empire . His extensive travels left him knowledgeable of world matters, and well-respected as a scholar. Coming from simple beginnings, Palóu was born in 1723 at Palma, on the Island of Majorca, and began religious work early in his life as he entered the Franciscan Order around the age of seventeen in 1739. After developing

259-505: A new visitador , José de Gálvez , was dispatched from Spain with authority to organize and expand the fledgling province. The more ambitious province name, Las Californias , was established by a joint dispatch to the King from Viceroy de Croix and visitador José de Gálvez, dated January 28, 1768. Gálvez sought to make a distinction between the Antigua ('old') area of established settlement and

296-469: The Franciscan Order , Palóu became "Presidente" of the missions in Baja California , and later of missions of Alta California . Palóu's work in the Spanish mission system spans from his early twenties to his death at the age of 66. According to biographer/translator Herbert E. Bolton , "Fray Palóu was a diligent student, devout Christian, loyal disciple, tireless traveler, zealous missionary, firm defender of

333-486: The Nueva ('new') unexplored areas to the north. At that time, almost the only explored and settled areas of the province were around the former Jesuit missions but, once exploration and settlement of the northern frontier began in earnest, the geographical designations Alta ('upper') and Baja ('lower') gained favor. The single province was divided in 1804, into Alta California province and Baja California province. By

370-520: The Presidio of San Francisco . The Rivera expedition returned to the Presidio of Monterey via the coastal route first explored by the Portolà expedition of 1769. At the north end of Monterey Bay , Rivera and Palóu inspected the area around today's Santa Cruz , described by friar Juan Crespí (who accompanied Portolà) and recommended by Crespí as a future mission site. Palóu agreed, and on December 9 selected

407-732: The Three Californias or the Two Californias , are a region of North America spanning the United States and Mexico , consisting of the U.S. state of California and the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur . Historically, the term Californias was used to define the vast northwestern region of Spanish America , as the Province of the Californias ( Spanish : Provincia de las Californias ), and later as

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444-592: The 29th State of Mexico as Baja California . 1984 . Baja California Sur became a Mexican state. The Baja California Peninsula is bordered on three sides by water, the Pacific Ocean (south and west) and Gulf of California (east); while Alta California had the Pacific Ocean on the west and deserts on the east. A northern boundary was established by the Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819. That boundary line remains

481-552: The 31st of the United States. 1853 . The Gadsden Purchase transferred addition territory from Mexico to the United States. 1853 . William Walker led a force that attempted to capture the Baja California Territory and Sonora to create an independent Republic of Sonora . Walker was defeated by Mexican forces led by Antonio Meléndrez . 1864 . Nevada became the 36th of the United States. 1876 . Colorado became

518-499: The 38th of the United States. 1890 . Wyoming became the 44th of the United States. 1896 . Utah became the 45th of the United States. 1912 . New Mexico became the 47th of the United States. 1912 . Arizona became the 48th of the United States. 1931 . Baja California Territory was divided into the Territory of Baja California Norte and the Territory of Baja California Sur . 1952 . The Territory of Baja California Norte became

555-571: The Jesuit missionaries who had been previously expelled from Spain. Much of Palóu's life would be spent in Alta California , and many of his notable endeavors occurred there as well. Palóu and the other friars reached Loreto in Lower California in the spring of 1768. Palou was given control of Mission San Francisco Javier . The following year, Junipero Serra left for Alta California to proceed with

592-699: The U.S. remained under military authority, pending creation of civilian government through territorial designation and/or statehood. Baja California in Mexico was established as the Baja California Territory after the War. It was split by the Congress into Northern and Southern territories. Seven new U.S. states were created entirely or partly from land formerly included in The Californias. 1850 . California became

629-691: The United States. The populated coastal region of the territory was admitted into the Union in 1850 as the State of California , while the vast, sparsely populated interior region would only later gain statehood as Nevada , Utah , and parts of New Mexico , Arizona , Wyoming , and Colorado . Today, Californias is a collective term to refer to the American and Mexican states bearing the name California , which share geography, history, cultures, and strong economic ties. There has been understandable confusion about use of

666-633: The acting presidente of the Upper California missions until the formal appointment of Lasuén as successor to Serra. Palou remained at Mission San Carlos until failing health and old age led him to retire in 1785 to the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico . He was elected guardian of the college and held this office until his death in Mexico, where he had completed his biography of Serra, most of which he had written while still in California. Francisco Palóu played many key roles and offices vital to

703-612: The border north of the Palóu line to become the US-Mexican border between the US state of California and the Mexican state of Baja California . Granting land formerly administered by Alta California where the modern day cities of Tijuana , Mexicali , and Tecate are located, to Baja California's administration. Francisco Pal%C3%B3u Francisco Palóu (Francesc Palou in catalan) , OFM (1723–1789)

740-464: The division but demoted the former provinces to territories, due to populations too small for statehood. In 1836, the designation Las Californias was revived, reuniting Alta and Baja California into a single departamento ( department ) as part of the conservative government reforms codified in the Siete Leyes (Seven Laws). The Seven Laws were repealed in 1847, during the Mexican–American War , and

777-457: The establishment of several of the missions in California and many of those in Mexico. He compiled a standard history of the California missions from 1767 to 1784 in his " noticias " as a four-volume set. He also wrote of his teacher, Junípero Serra. Both works provide key information about early California and the missionary system established there. The Californias The Californias ( Spanish : Las Californias ), occasionally known as

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814-508: The faith, resourceful pioneer, successful mission builder, able administrator, and fair minded historian of California ". Palóu is particularly noted for his pious biography of Serra, and for his multi-volume early history of Spanish Empire exploration and occupation of the Californias . Francesc Palou was born in Petra, Majorca , where he joined the Franciscan Order . Together with Junípero Serra , he traveled to New Spain in 1740 and served as

851-634: The further establishment of missions in that region. This left the office of "president" or superior of all missions in Lower California for Palóu to control until 1773. When the Lower Californian missions were turned over to the Dominican missionaries, Palóu was able to rejoin his brethren and mentor in Upper California. He first went to San Diego , then continued onwards to Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (in present-day Carmel ), which Serra had been using as his headquarters. Palóu greatly assisted in

888-532: The jurisdictional boundary between the Dominican and Franciscan missionary operations. The boundary marker is located north of the Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera , with the inscription on the boundary marker translated from Spanish stated: San Juan Bautista Creek: Juan Crespí , May 1 for the setting of the first international division line between Old or Lower California ( Dominicans ) and New or Upper California ( Franciscans ) five leagues to

925-672: The north (Valley of the Médanos ) being established by: Priest Francisco Palóu on 19 August 1773 ( Mojonera of Palou ) in compliance with the instructions put forth on the April 7, 1772 Concordato . Due to the growth of the Hispanic population in the Californias in the late 1700s, the Diego de Borica administration started defining the Palóu Line as the division between Baja California and Alta California. It

962-692: The northern boundary of the U.S. states of California, Nevada, and the western part of Utah. Inland regions were mostly unexplored by the Spanish, leaving them generally outside the control of the colonial authorities. Mountain ranges of the Peninsular Ranges , eastern Transverse Ranges , and the Sierra Nevada , along with the arid Colorado Desert , Mojave Desert , and Great Basin Desert in their eastern rain shadows , served as natural barriers to Spanish settlement. The eastern border of upper Las Californias

999-475: The nucleus of Loreto , first permanent settlement and first administrative center of the province. The Jesuits went on to found a total of 18 missions in the lower two-thirds of the Baja California Peninsula . In 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from the missions, and Franciscans were brought in to take over. Gaspar de Portolá was appointed governor to supervise the transition. At the same time,

1036-403: The peninsular Baja California missions in 1773, Palóu, being Franciscan, moved on to Upper California, marking the geographical boundary between the two orders' fields. He assisted in the exploration of the site of San Francisco and administered Mission San Francisco de Asís . When Serra died, Palóu was briefly acting head of the Baja California missions, but soon returned to central Mexico. As

1073-549: The placement of friars and recorded historical data, the only surviving account of some aspects of the early California missions. In 1774, Palóu accompanied Captain Rivera 's expedition to the Bay of San Francisco, and on December 4 planted the cross on a hill he named "Lobos" (wolves), which sits in clear view of the Golden Gate and Pacific Ocean . The name lives on as Lobos Creek , within

1110-413: The plural Californias by Spanish colonial authorities. California historian Theodore Hittell offered the following explanation: In very early times, while the country was supposed to be an island or rather several islands, it was commonly known by the plural appellation of "Las Californias" (The Californias). Afterwards, when its peninsular character was ascertained, it was called simply California; but

1147-437: The same time the old plural name of The Californias was revived, but with a more definite signification than before. The first attempted Spanish occupation of California was by the Jesuit missionary Eusebio Kino , in 1683. His Misión San Bruno failed, however, and it was not until 1697 that Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó was successfully established by another Jesuit, Juan María de Salvatierra . The mission became

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1184-510: The split of the two Californias was restored. Following Mexico's defeat in the war, most of the former Alta California territory was ceded on 2 February 1848 to the United States, under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo . The new Mexico–United States border was established slightly to the north of the previous Alta-Baja border, and the terms Las Californias and Alta California were no longer formally used. The areas acquired by

1221-416: The territory so designated was unlimited in extent. When the expeditions for the settlement of San Diego and Monterey marched, it was understood that they were going, not out of California, but into a new part of it. The peninsula then began to be generally spoken of as Antigua or Old California and the unlimited remainder as Nueva or New California, subsequently more commonly called Alta or Upper California. At

1258-517: The time of the 1804 split, the Alta province had expanded to include coastal areas as far north as what is now the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California . Expansion came through exploration and colonization expeditions led by Portolá (1769), his successor Pedro Fages (1770), Juan Bautista de Anza (1774–76), the Franciscan missionaries and others. Independent Mexico retained

1295-400: Was a Spanish Franciscan missionary, administrator and historian on the Baja California Peninsula and in Alta California . Palóu made significant contributions to the Alta California and Baja California mission systems. Along with his mentor, Junípero Serra , Palóu worked to build numerous missions throughout Alta and Baja California, many structures of which still stand today. A member of

1332-572: Was then appointed as the first governor of Alta California. The codification of the Siete Leyes amendments to the Mexican Constitution of would dissolve the boundary between Baja California and Alta California as they would merge to become the Department of the Californias . After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , a new border would be set between Baja California and Alta California, shifting

1369-605: Was under the José Joaquín de Arrillaga administration in 1804, when the boundary became the political reality. The province of Las Californias, then a part of the Commandancy General of the Internal Provinces , was divided into two separate territorial administrations following Palóu's division between the Dominican and Franciscan missions, creating the new territories of Baja California and Alta California . Arrillaga

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