Just reading AMERICAN HERITAGE MAGAZINE, Winter 2011 issue which has an article called "Fremont Steals California" by Sally Denton, which I found very interesting indeed!
The physical site where the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed (which made California the United States) is very close to the entrance of the Universal Studios in Studio City - North Hollywood, California. I've been meaning to go there during one of their open houses, but it's not open often. Apparently this historical site is one that is not very popular, perhaps because there are so very many Mexican - Americans in Southern California, legal and illegal aliens, who feel that this state still belongs to Mexico and they seem to lack volunteers, even though the Universal Studio tourists are so very close to a major point of American history.
The Treaty was signed January 13, 1847. And since then this has legally been the United States of America.
The title of Ms. Denton's article is in reference to the fact that Fremont was a junior Army officer who was acting on secret orders of the President of the United States to bluff that his forces were far stronger than they were. As a result Fremont waged an almost bloodless coup for the Monterrey area of California. And so it went.
Linking to the magazine's web site above: Maybe you'd love a subscription for Christmas? The magazine is excellent for Civil War buffs.
