Author Question: The main purpose of the Gwin Act (1851) was to a. ensure that Americans gained as much good ... (Read 57 times)

swpotter12 · **on:** Jul 4, 2018

The main purpose of the Gwin Act (1851) was to

a. ensure that Americans gained as much good farming and ranching land in California as possible.
b. review evidence of Californio land ownership and any conflicting claims, and then to decide who legally owned all or parts of land grants.
c. stretch out as long as possible the process of affirming land titles to ensure that rancheros would give up before receiving legal recognition of their land ownership.
d. ensure that California Indians received some of the land that had been distributed as land grants to Mexicans.

Question 2

Americans who came to California from the eastern states believed they had the right to occupy portions of Californios' ranchos because

a. legislation allowed settlers in the frontier regions to squat on unused land, farm it, and then buy it cheaply from the federal government.
b. the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had no provisions to protect Californios' land grants.
c. the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo specified that only landowners with proof of ownership could keep their land.
d. Eastern Americans came to California with prejudices against Mexicans and felt that they could therefore take Californios' land.