California (Cromwell the Great)

Republic of California República de California Timeline: Cromwell the Great OTL equivalent: California, Baja California, Nevada and Utah, and parts of Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico
Motto:  Regnat populus (Latin: The people rule)
Capital (and largest city)		Monterrey
Other cities		Salinas, San Diego, Los Ángeles, Fresno and Sacramento
Official languages		Spanish
Religion		Roman Catholic (main) Various Protestantism, Non-Religious, Deism (Cult of Reason), Atheism and Judaism
Demonym		californiano (spanish), Californian (English)
Government		Republic
-	President	Pío de Jesús Pico
Legislature		National Congress
-	Upper house	Senate
-	Lower house	House of Delegate
Republic
-	Independence from Mexican Empire	1830
Currency		Californian peso ($)
Time zone		GMT-8
Date formats		dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Drives on the		right
Membership international or regional organizations		League of American Republics (Member)

No es dichoso aquél a quien la fortuna no puede dar más, sino aquel a quien no puede quitar nada
(Francisco de Quevedo)

The Republic of California (Spanish: República de California) is an independent nation located in Western North America. The nation is bordered by Oregon to the north, Louisiana, Dakota and Mexico to the south east. California's territory comprises mostly of deserts and mountains. The Colorado, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin are the three major rivers located within the nation that enable large scale agriculture and the majority of ranchos are located.

Under dispute were the territories north of Yreka and Klamath river that were claimed, besides California, also by Louisiana, Dakota, Mexico, Russia and the British Commonwealth. The Sacramento Treaty settle the southern boundaries of Cascadia between Russia, California and the British Commonwealth in behalf of Borealia. Previsions of the treaty lead to the future creation of New Albion and Oregon.

Independence and Early History

During the Spanish American Revolutions of the 1810s, California would fight for independence as part of Mexico (former New Spain). However, with the establishment of the Mexican Empire, its territorial centralization policies that crushes local autonomy, taxes of which most went to Mexico City with little return for California and the conservative policies of the Empire created unrest in local governing elites and economic interests.

The First War of the Reforms (1829-1830) put most of California in the liberal camp. However, California proclaimed its independence in 1830 along Tejas, Yucatan and Rio Grande in a brief coalition as the First War of the Reforms collapsed and the allied provinces managed to keep their independence.

As part of the liberal reforms secularization of mission lands was enacted and obligatory primary school. Both measures were resisted by the clergy. A side effect of the secularization was the entrenchment of the ranchos. An influential and wealthy liberal oligarchy of rancheros would run the government according to their interests for several decades.

Independence brought new opportunities and the Gold Rush of 1840 attracted new migration from the Commonwealth, Mexico, Louisiana and the Dutch. For at least a decade California became the main gold producer of the World.

The Picotazo (1843-1894)

Pío de Jesús Pico (1801–1894). President (1846-1852, 1858-1864) and Jefazo of California

Pío de Jesús Pico (1801–1894) was the main strongman or Jefazo of California from 1843 until his death. Under his rule, know as the Picotazo by his enemies, California had a golden economical development fueled in part by the gold rush and later agricultural and mining production. Pico's keen political ability enable him become more powerful then the elected President, that were usually members of his clique. Under Pico political dissident was not tolerated and elections were rigged or annulled. Having as allies the army, the rancheros and later mining owners Pico's influence was wide spreading. Not being himself a religious man he tolerated the Church as a means to keep power usually usually naming or being consulted on the nominations of the hierarchy of the clergy. He used anti-clericalism when bishops did not acknowledge his authority. The main Secular Laws — civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths—, divorce and public primary education were enacted during his rule or influence.

Government

The Californian Constitution of 1831 established a unitary state comprised of provinces, which are subdivided into departments. The National Congress (Congreso Nacional) is the legislature.

The executive is exercised by the President that is both the head of state and government. The President is elected by the National Congress for a six year term.

The Judiciary of California interprets and applies the law, and is defined under the Constitution, law, and regulations. The judiciary has a hierarchical structure with the Supreme Court at the apex. The Superior Courts are the primary trial courts, and the Courts of Appeal are the primary appellate court.

Administratively California ins divided in provinces, departments and counties, and their respective political chiefs are named by the President. Local government is run by elected alcaldes (mayors) and regidores (alderman).

Presidents of California

Portrait	Name (birth-death) Mandate	Party	Notes
	José María de Echeandía (?-1871) 1830-1836	Nonpartisan secessionist anti-centralist	Last governor of Alta California. Provisional President and elected as first president in 1831.
	Juan Bautista Alvarado (1809–1882) 1836-1841	Californian National Party (PNC)
	José Antonio Castro (1808–1860) 1841-1846	National Liberal Party (PLN)
	Pío de Jesús Pico (1801–1894) 1846-1852	PLN
	Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo (1807–1890) 1852-1858	In 1854 the PLN became the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR)
	Pío de Jesús Pico (1801–1894) 1858-1864	PLR

Politics

Since its independence from Mexico the main governing party of California has being the Liberal Reformist Party (Partido Liberal Reformista, PLR). The PLR was founded as National Liberal Party (Partido Liberal Nacional, PLN) and in 1854 became the PLR after its conservative faction split from the PLN.

Opposition to the governing PLR are the catholic Conservative Party and the radical Republican Party.

The Californian National Party (Partido Nacional de California, PNC) was dissolved in 1845.

Agriculture

California's main agricultural and cattle holding is the rancho. These are large land grants, usually two or more square leagues, or 35 square kilometres (14 sq mi). The rancho land-grant titles (concessions) are government-issued, permanent, unencumbered property-ownership rights. The ranchos encompassed virtually all of the most valuable land near the coast, around San Francisco Bay, and inland chiefly along the Sacramento River and nearby lands in the Central Valley and in a minor degree the Colorado and San Joaquin valleys.