The Gold Rush had given the Americans the fuel they needed to over take the Mexican government.  The Americans claimed the lands from the Mexican government.  Battles were fought.  New territories were drawn.

In 1854, the Chumash reservation was established at the Tejon Pass.  But, it was set up to fail.  There was a mixture of tribes.  There were no resources, no leaders.  It was founded in a very harsh environment.  Most of the people there left.

The Chumash found their way back to the missions and settled on the exteriors to form reservations.  The Chumash that did not go were murdered, suffered massive poverty, lived in ghetto areas of cities, or hid in the Mexican-American populations.  Depression, alcoholism, and violence surrounded them on a daily basis.  Their numbers were estimated to be 1500 to 2000, most with mixed blood lines, some still full Chumash.

The United States federal government did recognize the general Native American plight.  How to fully recognize and honor the Native American people, whose home America exists on today, has been and will be a difficult topic for the future.  And unfortunately, many Native Americans still suffer poor conditions today.