| Almanac: February | ||
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03 |
1848
The United States and Mexico sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico ceded all its territories north of the Rio Grande in return for $15 million in cash and a $3.25 million payment of claims by Mexican citizens against the United States. This territory included Alta California, which since being conquered in 1846 had been administered as occupied enemy territory in time of war. California’s transition to an American territory was blocked by Congress. Northern states wanted California to be a free state. Southern states wanted at least a portion to allow slavery. The resulting deadlock left California a legal oddity. American military personnel provided civil administration under the Mexican alcalde system of governance. [Source: California by Kevin Starr.]
“The treaty added an additional 525,000 square miles to United States territory, including the land that makes up all or parts of present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.” [Source: History.com.]
1921
Airmail service opens between New York and San Francisco. Airmail’s First Day.
2020
A catastrophic fire destroys the headquarters of Working Wardrobes, an Orange County charity that worked with women to get them established in a paying job (“The Power of a Paycheck”). Their warehouse of donations, classrooms, wardrobe center, business office… everything was destroyed. A temporary site was immediately made available by Goodwill Industries. Working Wardrobes is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.