WI: Gold discovered in California 25 years earlier

Inspired by another thread.

What if gold was discovered in California a few years after Mexican Independence. Also Nevada's gold and silver deposites were found not long after.

What effect would this have on the history of Mexico and the Mexican-American War? Also British interests in the Oregon Territory dispute may increase as it would raise the prospect of gold in the Pacific Northwest.
 
Mexico considerably more powerful, but not much less corrupt.

They´ll end up with some general in charge, but maybe they can beat USA in this version of events.
 
The problem with this is that it is hard to quickly settle the SW. The region cannot grow enough food without importing stuff, and Mexico was not known at the time for its road network.

I don't think that anyone could settle the area quickly enough to get a grab on it other than in real-time. The only major difference would be that US pays more to Mexico after the war, and the treaty is still considered heavily in favor of the US.
 
The problem with this is that it is hard to quickly settle the SW. The region cannot grow enough food without importing stuff, and Mexico was not known at the time for its road network.

Wouldn't wealth attract immigration? For example from Catholic Europe? Immigrants plus money would translate to better infrastructure.
 
Instead of many US immigrants going to Texas like in OTL, they go to California. When Santa Anna abolishes the Constitution in 1836, Alta California joins OTL's [FONT=&quot]Texas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Durango, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Yucatán, Jalisco and Zacatecas in attempting to secede.

California likely succeeds, due to the sheer distance from Mexico City if nothing else, and becomes an independant country. Texas is more likely to fail, though harsh enough treatment of losing immigrants could get the US to declare war on Mexico. Alternatively, with even wider scale revolts, the central government might lose California, Texas, and more. Mexico might even fragment.

California probably can't afford to get mixed up in the Oregon Territory issue, which doesn't mean they won't. They might also try to pick up Neuvo Mexico, Sonora, and.or Baja California. They may not be keen on the Mormons arriving in 1844.


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