WI: 1800 California Gold Discovery

So I had this idea that WI gold was discovered earlier in California 1800s.

First off, would the gold help ease the declining Spanish Empire?

Second, with Spain strengthening its position in California could we perhaps see try to press an earlier Ukase of 1821 and colonizing the Northwest pacific? How woudl the Brits react and wouldn't they do the same thing by pressing its claim upon the Northwest Pacific?

Third, since California has a Mediterranean style climate could we see the Portuguese, Italians, and Greeks migrating to California and establishing a large population along with the Spanish (including the Latin Americans, and the Filipinos)?

Four, could the Spanish attract Catholics such as the French and Irish to migrate to California.

Five, When the Latin American Revolutions occur, could the Spanish retain California (with Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, as a royalist bastion in North America, similar to British Canada.

Six, what could be the projected population of California by 1860?
 
An interesting idea, I doubt it ends with Spain retaining California though, as the factors such as the Napoleonic Wars that forced the colonies into de-facto independece are still in place. My guess is that Spanish California ends up with some stronger attempts at settlement (or at least fortification), though such efforts would be hampered by the large amount of irrigation required to make most of California able to support a large population.

I'd say it still ends up as part of Mexico upon independence (USA can't really grab it in this time period, nor I imagine could most colonial nations, interest in the Pacific simply was not there yet).

Depending on the state of Mexico upon independence, it may invest in Alta California to a degree unseen in OTL, depending on it's ability to consolidate the north despite the potential issues of political instability (though not gaurunteed for Mexico depending on how independence war goes) and relations to the natives who OTL damaged a large chunk of northern Mexico and made development of the region grind to a halt as a result.
 
My question is who would/could immigrate to CA at that time? Mexicans would not face the limits that they did by the US in OTL's gold rush, so we would likely see more settlement of Latin influence people than OTL. Also where will all the wealth go? If it remains in the economy of New Spain does that mean that the Mexicans will have a greater amount of wealth to use for their rebellion?
 
In my view it turns entirely on how many peninsulares inhabit California. Given that you have stated significant gold deposits are discovered in 1800, this suggests that most immigrants from the Old World will be recent arrivals at the time of the Mexican Independence Wars — consequently unlikely to support the revolutionaries. I think a convincing case can be made that the Mexican Independence War, at least until the defection of Iturbide, was more of a civil war. It is likely the recent immigrants in California would not wish to associate with the goals of Morelos for racial equality etc. (Even OTL Iturbide only reluctantly accepted this demand in the Plan of Iguala).

However there is one problem with the assumption that there can be significant Old World immigration in this period — the Napoleonic Wars are raging in Europe. In my view it is more likely the new immigrants to the California area, to 'follow the gold', will be immigrants from New Spain and other areas. I would not rule out some enterprising Yankees making the trek either, though this is unlikely to be significant especially with the Mexican Independence War raging.

Consequently, I think it is likely California will remain a Mexican province at independence. Arguably, it is Mexican California that will be the beneficiary of foreign immigration, not Spanish California. This will certainly make things interesting over the years as Mexico (presumably) disintegrates. I would not rule out a more populated, ethnically mixed, and reasonably prosperous California declaring independence like Texas, Rio Grande Republic and the Yucatan all did historically.
 
Oh, this has been my dream TL for a looooooong time.


Anyway. I can't say much, but let's say that the gold attracts more immigrants and therefore forces people into contact with the natives (who, even though devastated by disease, are still in the vast majority of the population). The natives come to be tolerated and perhaps even mixed with similar to the rest of Spain's colonies, and once California is developed enough and has settlers in Nevada, we may see a Silver Rush too.


And declaring independence would do good for the regions overall health, I believe. For right now we are in a drought after centuries of living the "American Way". But a native Californian state would know how to survive with their limitations yet still use their potential.
 
in 1800, California may as well be on the moon regarding US migration. there's an entire continent of unexplored land to go through to get there from any population of the US.

So, you have the question of who has the ability to get to california and extract the gold. Spain, Britain, maybe Russia. France may be very willing to distract anyone messing with Spain, as long as Spain is willing to share the wealth, which they probably would be. Spain might be willing to switch back to Britain side if Britain will not mess with the gold and share the wealth in that direction.

such a major POD changes up entirely how countries act and react.
 
any dreams that the natives make out better is simply wishful thinking. it's a couple of centuries til anyone, anywhere on the planet, gives a shit about the natives.
 
How would the Spanish manage the discovery? Wouldn't it more likely be a government monopoly rather than a free-ranging gold rush.

That would tend to keep the population increase down, no?
 
in 1800, California may as well be on the moon regarding US migration. there's an entire continent of unexplored land to go through to get there from any population of the US.

Not really. IIRC, about half of the OTL '49ers came by sea, either crossing Panama overland and meeting a new boat there, or going around the Horn. THAT route isn't horribly more difficult than OTL.
 

Sycamore

Banned
in 1800, California may as well be on the moon regarding US migration. there's an entire continent of unexplored land to go through to get there from any population of the US.

So, you have the question of who has the ability to get to california and extract the gold. Spain, Britain, maybe Russia. France may be very willing to distract anyone messing with Spain, as long as Spain is willing to share the wealth, which they probably would be. Spain might be willing to switch back to Britain side if Britain will not mess with the gold and share the wealth in that direction.

such a major POD changes up entirely how countries act and react.

Wouldn't France be more likely? After all, IOTL, Spain only executed the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso and transferred Louisiana to France in 1802- prior to that, it was Spanish territory, part of New Spain. ITTL, they'd be likely to delay longer- but not too much longer than they did IOTL, a year extra at most. Napoleon's territorial ambitions have no bounds, and the newly discovered gold in California would almost certainly lead to him increasing his demands and requesting that California be added to the plate along with Louisiana, to become part of his vision for 'New France' ITTL.
 
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