California Becomes a State
On September 9, 1850, California became the 31st state in the United States. Its admission brought a new state government and representatives in Congress. But the decision also became part of a fierce national argument over slavery, while bringing major changes to the lives of people already living in California.
From Mexican land to a rush for gold
For thousands of years, many distinct Indigenous nations and communities had lived throughout the region now called California. They had their own languages, governments, and ways of caring for the land. Spanish colonization, beginning in the 1700s, disrupted their communities through missions, forced labor, disease, and loss of land. Mexico later controlled the region, and Indigenous people continued to face threats to their land and freedom.
After the United States defeated Mexico in the Mexican-American War, Mexico gave up a vast area of land to the United States in 1848. That same year, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California. News of the discovery spread, and people arrived from other parts of the United States and from around the world, hoping to find gold or earn money from the growing population. This movement became known as the Gold Rush.
- colonization:
- The process of taking control of another region and settling there.
- delegates:
- People chosen to represent others at a meeting.
- constitution:
- A document that sets out the basic rules of a government.
- admission:
- The act of allowing someone or something to join a group.
- provisions:
- Parts of a law or agreement that set out particular rules.
- removal:
- The act of taking people away from a place.
- devastated:
- Severely harmed or damaged.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How did the Gold Rush increase pressure to decide how California would be governed?
- 2Why did California’s request to enter as a free state concern many members of Congress?
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“California Becomes a State” is a explanatory article reading passage about California statehood, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (522 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.