1756 - 1763 - The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) due to disputes over land is won by Great Britain. France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba.

1769 - Father Junipero Serra founds San Diego De Alcala, the first of 21 missions established by Franciscan priests in California

1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution creates the United States of America. The Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies

July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces

September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain

Facts about the History of California History - The Early 1800's

• 1812 - Russian fur traders establish Fort Ross

• 1812 - 1815 - The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence

• 1820 -Mexico wins its independence from Spain and becomes California's new ruler.US Trappers, including Jedediah Strong Smith, start trading in the state

• 1846 - The United States invades Mexico from the east starting the Mexican-American War won by the US on July 9, 1846

• 1848 - James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's sawmill in Coloma which starts the Gold Rush

• 1860 The Pony Express starts carrying mail from Missouri to California

Facts about the History of California History - The American Civil War

• 1861 - 1865 The American Civil War. In 1859 John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and set in motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy.

• 1865 December 6 - The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery

• 1898-1901 The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

Origin of the name

• The name is believed to have been derived from a book called 'Las Sergas de Esplandian' by Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo which was written in 1510. The book centres around a mythical Spanish island ruled by a queen called 'Califia' - hence the name California