The Californias - Political Organization

Political Organization

Most of the colonization of the area was done first by Jesuit missionaries, who set out in the 17th century to convert and to politically and socially reorganize the Native communities of the region. The Jesuits' efforts were backed by the presence of Spanish soldiers stationed in a system of presidios, but the missionaries had control of the civilian government until their expulsion in 1768. Once the missions and the Native communities organized around them were successfully established, secular settlements of Hispanic peoples from other parts of northern New Spain were created. This process was first carried out during the 17th and 18th centuries in Baja California, and was repeated in the late 18th century in the area that is today the State of California. The Californias fell under the jurisdiction of the Audiencia of Guadalajara in judicial matters.

In 1776 the Californias became part of the Commandancy General of the Provincias Internas. In 1786 an independent intendancy was set up for the Californias to administer government and military finances, but the office was merged with the governorship a few years later. In 1804 the crown established two governorships for the region, one for Baja California and another for Alta California, that is, the remaining areas in the mainland to the north.