California

Definition

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It became a state as part of Compromise 1850, entering as a free state due to its adoption of a constitution that prohibited slavery.

Related terms

Gold Rush: A period from 1848-1855 when thousands flocked to California after gold was discovered there, significantly increasing the state's population and economy.

Manifest Destiny: The 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the U.S. throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Statehood: The status of being a recognized independent nation, often in reference to its inclusion within a larger union or federation.