USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Many rancheros lost their land during this era or sold portions of it to pay legal fees. Sometimes lawyers accepted payment in land. This law led in large part to the breakup of rancho lands that dominated the Los Angeles area landscape.

Detailed explanation-2: -The new Anglo government extended in writing certain rights to the Californios which it denied to Indians. Rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution did not apply to Indians. They could not vote or own property.

Detailed explanation-3: -Land was also lost as a result of fraud. A sharp decline in cattle prices, the floods of 1861–1862, and droughts of 1863–1864 also forced many of the overextended rancheros to sell their properties to Americans. They often quickly subdivided the land and sold it to new settlers, who began farming individual plots.

Detailed explanation-4: -The wealthy Spanish Californian families called Californios were the first group to receive large-scale benefit from California’s rich agricultural resources. Many were given land grants from Spain.