In 1821, Mexico seceded from the Spanish Empire and took California with it.
California remained very remote, with only a trickle of immigration by boat.
The number of ships increased from 2 to 25 per year, with some coming from as far away as Boston, navigating 14,000 miles around Cape Horn.
The main Californian port was Monterey, where goods were taxed up to 100%.
The Custom House and Larkin House, built for the first American consul to Mexico and whose architectural style quickly spread throughout the state, are still visible today.
Mexico abolished the mission system in California.
However, instead of being given to Native Californians who had worked in the missions, the land and cattle of the missions were distributed to the governors' friends and family, who became known as the "ranchos".
This period marked the Golden Age for Californian ranchos.
Around 14,000 square miles of land were distributed to approximately 500 ranchers, who became wealthy through the export of hides and cattle fat.
Today, you can still visit the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, one of the largest ranches in Northern California, which employed around 2,000 people and had about 10,000 cattle.
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