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As the result of the Mexican War, Mexico ceded California to the United States in 1846. A territorial government should have been established by the U.S. Congress, but it was not. Congress delayed establishing any civilian government while it struggled with the issues of slavery and the balance of slave and non-slave states. In the meantime, California was administered by a succession of seven American military governors. [RAP-ed.]
Source of the information in the following table: Hart, James D. A Companion to California, University of California Press, 1987.
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| John Drake Sloat | July 7--29, 1846 |
| Robert Field Stockton | July 29, 1846--Jan. 19, 1847 |
| John Charles Fremont | Jan. 19--March 1, 1847 |
| Stephen Watts Kearny | March 1--May 31, 1847 |
| Richard Barnes Mason | May 31, 1847--Feb.28, 1849 |
| Persifor F. Smith | Feb. 28--April 12, 1849 |
| Bennet Riley | April 12--Dec.20, 1849 |
Disclaimer: It is the Library's intent to provide accurate local history information. However, it is not possible for the Library to completely verify the accuracy of individual articles obtained from a variety of sources. If you believe that factual statements in a local history article are incorrect and can provide documentation, please contact the Webmaster.
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