The Alta California was a weekly publication established at San Francisco on January the 3rd 1849 by Samuel Brannan. It was the first newspaper of any importance issued in California, and arose from a consolidation of the older journals the Star and then Monterey Californian. In 1850 the Alta California commenced daily publication. Research Alta California
Carbonari was the name of an Italian political secret society, which appears to have been formed by the Neapolitan republicans during the reign of Joachim (Murat), and had for its object the expulsion of the strangers and the establishment of a democratic government. The ritual of the Carbonari was taken from the trade of the charcoal-burner. A lodge was baracca (a hut); a meeting was vendita (a sale); an important meeting alta vendita.
There were four grades in the society; and the ceremonies of initiation were characterized by many mysticrites. The language of religion was much used to express their purposes. Christ was the lamb torn by the wolf and whom they were sworn to avenge. Clearing the wood of wolves (opposition to tyranny) became the symbolic expression of their aim. By this they are said to have meant at first only deliverance from foreign dominion; but in later times democratical and antimonarchical principles sprang up, which were discussed chiefly among the higher degrees. The order, soon after its foundation, contained from 24,000 to 30,000 members, and increased so rapidly that it spread through all Italy. In 1820, in the month of March alone, about 650,000 new members are said to have been admitted.
After the suppression of the Neapolitan and Piedmontese revolution in 1821, the Carbonari, throughout Italy, were declared guilty of high treason, and punished as such by the laws. Meantime societies of a similar kind had been formed in France, with which the Italian Carbonari amalgamated; and Paris became the head-quarters of Carbonarism. The organization took on more of a French character, and gradually alienated the sympathies of the Italian members, a number of whom dissolved connection with it, in order to form the party of 'Young Italy.' Research Carbonari
A Pueblo was a type of purely civic colony established in California by the Spanish. They were so called to distinguish them from the missiones and presidios. Pueblo lands were vested, either by proprietary right in the individual, or in companies of individuals, reserving to them certain rights as citizens and colonists. The first settlers were also allowed money and supplies to start on. The first pueblo settlement in AltaCalifornia was made in 1771. The inhabitants of pueblos were permitted by a decree of Philip II, of Spain, to elect their own magistrates, of whom the alcalde was the chief. Lands outside the pueblo grants were reserved for the king, but might be used as a common pasturage. Research Pueblo
Abbreviations
Research Alta California
