September 9, 1850: California becomes the
31st state in record time
Though it had only been a part of the United ground just waiting to be picked up.
States for less than two years, California California’s population and wealth
becomes the 31st state in the union (without skyrocketed.
ever even having been a territory) on this
day in 1850. Most newly acquired regions of the U.S.
went through long periods as territories
Mexico had reluctantly ceded California and before they had the 60,000 inhabitants
much of its northern territory to the United needed to achieve statehood, and prior to the
States in the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Gold Rush, emigration to California had
Hidalgo,. When the Mexican diplomats been so slow that it would have been
signed the treaty, they pictured California as decades before the population reached that
a region of sleepy mission towns with a tiny number. But with gold fever reaching
population of about 7,300-not a devastating epidemic proportions around the world,
loss to the Mexican empire. Their regret more than 60,000 people from around the
might have been much sharper had they globe came to California in 1849 alone.
known that gold had been discovered at Faced with such rapid growth, as well as a
Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California, nine thorny congressional debate over the
days before they signed the peace treaty. question of slavery in the new territories,
Suddenly, the greatest gold rush in history Congress allowed California to jump
was on, and “forty-niners” began flooding straight to full statehood without ever
into California chasing after the fist-sized passing through the formal territorial stage.
gold nuggets rumored to be strewn about the After a rancorous debate between the slave-
state and free-soil advocates, Congress Article Title: California becomes the 31st state in record time
Author: History.com Editors
finally accepted California as a free-labor Website Name: HISTORY
state under the Compromise of 1850, URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/california-
becomes-the-31st-state-in-record-time
beginning the state’s long reign as the most Access Date: February 1, 2019
powerful economic and political force in the Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: December 13, 2018
far West. Original Published Date: November 16, 2009
1. Before becoming a state, how long was California part of the US?
Less than 2 years
2. How did the US acquire California?
Mexico had reluctantly ceded California and much of its northern territory to the United States in the
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
3. What discovery changed the importance of California?
Gold was found in California.
4. In order to become a state, how many citizens are required?
60, 000 people
5. The debate surrounding California statehood centered on what issue?
Faced with such rapid growth, as well as a thorny congressional debate over the
question of slavery in the new territories, Congress allowed California to jump
straight to full statehood without ever passing through the formal territorial stage.
