Spanish California
development and defense were constantly frustrated and angered by what
they perceived as inadequate attention and support by their superiors in
Mexico City. Authorities in Mexico City saw California as an economic drain
on resources. It was a strained relationship at best.
As elsewhere in New Spain ultimate political power in California was
exercised by Spanish born political, military, and religious personalities. As
time went on the Criollo (American born Spaniards) grew more numerous.
These Californios, as they were called, were the sons and daughters of
retired Spanish soldiers who had received land grants from the
government. These land grants (the successor institution to the
encomiendia) were operated as large ranches throughout central and
southern California. Cattle and horses thrived on these ranches and cattle
hides became the defacto for a cash starved economy. The ranch owners
and their families became the social aristocracy of the state.
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