Final answer:
The Californios were Mexican and Mexican-American individuals who lived in California prior to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Californios were Mexican and Mexican-American individuals who lived in California prior to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848. They were descendants of Spanish and Mexican settlers in the region. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo and the Land Law of 1851 had a significant impact on the Californios.
After the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, many Californios lost their lands as the United States government questioned the validity of Mexican and Spanish land deeds. This resulted in the loss of land for the Californios, and they went from being landowners to laborers on their former lands.
The Land Law of 1851 further affected the Californios by creating a process to investigate land claims and confirm ownership. However, this process often favored American settlers and resulted in the loss of land for many Californios.