Editing San Jose, California (section)

=== Mexican period ===
{{see also|Alta California|Mexican California}}
[[File:Antonio_Maria_Pico.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Antonio María Pico]] served twice as [[Alcalde of San José]] (mayor) and was a signer of the [[Californian Constitution]], representing San Jose at the [[California Constitutional Conventions|Monterey Constitutional Convention of 1849]].]]
San Jose became part of the [[First Mexican Empire]] in 1821, after [[Mexican War of Independence|Mexico's War of Independence]] was won against the [[Spanish Crown]], and in 1824, part of the [[First Mexican Republic]]. With its newfound independence, and the triumph of the republican movement, Mexico set out to diminish the [[Catholic Church]]'s power within Alta California by [[Mexican secularization act of 1833|secularizing the California missions]] in 1833.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

In 1824, in order to promote settlement and economic activity within sparsely populated California, the Mexican government began an initiative, for Mexican and foreign citizens alike, to settle unoccupied lands in California. Between 1833 and 1845, thirty-eight [[Ranchos of California|rancho land grants]] were issued in the [[Santa Clara Valley]], 15 of which were located within modern-day San Jose's borders. Numerous prominent historical figures were among those granted rancho lands in the Santa Valley, including [[James Alexander Forbes (1805–1881)|James A. Forbes]], founder of [[Los Gatos, California]] (granted [[Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara]]), [[Antonio Suñol]], [[Alcalde]] of San Jose (granted [[Rancho Los Coches (Sunol)|Rancho Los Coches]]), and [[José María Alviso]], [[Alcalde]] of San Jose (granted [[Rancho Milpitas]]).{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

In 1835, San Jose's population of approximately 700 people included 40 foreigners, primarily [[Americans]] and [[Englishmen]]. By 1845, the population of the pueblo had increased to 900, primarily due to American immigration. Foreign settlement in San Jose and California was rapidly changing Californian society, bringing expanding economic opportunities and foreign culture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanjosehistory.org/mexican-period/ |title=Mexican Period |website=San Jose History |access-date=November 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033123/http://www.sanjosehistory.org/mexican-period/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017 }}</ref>

By 1846, native [[Californio]]s had long expressed their concern for the overrunning of California society by its growing and wealthy Anglo-American community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanjosehistory.org/early-american-period/ |title=1846–1869 |website=San Jose History |access-date=November 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122042207/http://www.sanjosehistory.org/early-american-period/ |archive-date=November 22, 2017 }}</ref> During the 1846 [[Bear Flag Revolt]], Captain [[Thomas Fallon]] led nineteen volunteers from Santa Cruz to the pueblo of San Jose, which his forces easily captured. The raising of the flag of the [[California Republic]] ended Mexican rule in Alta California on July 14, 1846.<ref>{{cite web |title=San Jose's Latinos Howl About Plans for a 'Conquest Statue' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-14-mn-243-story.html |first1=Harold |last1=Maass |website=Los Angeles Times |date=July 14, 1990 |access-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511105918/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-14-mn-243-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Early History |url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/early-history.htm |website=U.S. National Park Service |date=February 22, 2018|access-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129222423/https://www.nps.gov/articles/early-history.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>