April
1822,
marked the end of Spanish Rule as military officials and
padres of the missions swore allegiance to Mexico. Mexican
rule changed from the Spanish system where there were
no privately owned land to a land grant system. The decline
of the missions was accelerated by the land grant system
and the secularization of the missions. Only ten families
controlled most of the Old Monterey Counties thousands
of acres of grazing lands. During this era there were
a few American merchants that benefited from the brisk
trade. Among the prominent merchants was Thomas Oliver
Larkin. Mexican rule was an era of much turmoil, political
rivalries and landowner squabbles.
Juan
Bautista Alvarado
Monterey
became the capital of California when 1836 a successful
revolt led by Juan Bautista Alvarado against the appointed
Mexicican governor. The capital of California was previously
located in Los Angeles. The successful rebels declared
"California a free and sovereign state."
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