Plaza de Cesar E. Chavez

Historical marker location:

194 South Market Street, San Jose, California

( Marker is on South Market Street north of Park Avenue, on the left when traveling south.)

California was once a part of Mexico before it became a U.S. state. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821 and California became a Mexican territory. However, in 1846, the U.S. declared war on Mexico and after a brief conflict, California was ceded to the U.S. as a part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.