In Part 1 of this fascinating interview, Dr. John Johnson, former Curator of Anthropology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, provides an in-depth look at the Chumash Uprising of 1824 – the most important indigenous uprising in California history.
Dr. Johnson, an expert on California’s Native peoples, especially the Chumash Indians, shares his extensive research on this pivotal uprising that occurred exactly 200 years ago.
In Part 1, he discusses:
- The historical context and conditions leading to the uprising
- The sequence of events at Missions Santa Ynez, La Purisima, and Santa Barbara
- Various perspectives on the causes, including those of missionaries, government officials, and the Chumash people themselves
- The aftermath and casualties of the uprising
- The cultural, economic, and political factors involved
In Part 2, he covers:
- The long-term impacts of the uprising on California’s history
- Why most Chumash people returned to the missions after the revolt
- The complex relationships between Native Americans, missionaries, and the Mexican government
- Comparisons with other California mission uprisings
- How modern Chumash people view and remember the uprising
- Ongoing research and future projects related to early California history
Drawing from mission records, oral histories, and extensive archival research, Dr. Johnson provides a nuanced view of this pivotal event and its place in the broader context of California’s Spanish and Mexican periods.
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