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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
"California is changing so fast that in a few years it will be unrecognizable. People come and go, countries stake their claim and lose it, borders shift like the sand under the desert wind." (Allende)
(Tao Chi'en) "This treaty, signed on February 2, 1848, ended the war between the United States and Mexico.Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory."(National Archives) -
Chilean Silver Rush
"Fate is like a river that twists and turns, and each twist is an opportunity, or a trap."(Allende)
Though the novel focuses on California, this sentiment aligns with the Chilean silver rush, as both events inspired migration, dreams of wealth, and profound societal changes.
“The town grew up after the Chañarcillo silver mine was discovered on May 16, 1832 by Juan Godoy. This event sparked the Chilean silver rush.” (Minerat Cl) -
Britain Outlaws Slavery
“You are free to make your own destiny, but never free from the consequences of your choices.”
This passage reflects the novel’s exploration of personal freedom and liberation
”On August 1, 1834, Britain passed the Slavery Abolition Act, outlawing the owning, buying, and selling of humans as property throughout its colonies around the world, it was a source of inspiration and hope for abolitionists. It outlawed slavery in Canada" (Prof. Zellenor, Washington Post) -
Concepcion Earthquake
"The world is in constant movement, and we must move with it, adapting or perishing." (Allende)
This reflects the notion of sudden changes, natural disasters or personal circumstances, metaphorically relates to the impact of an earthquake like the one in Concepción The experience convinced him that the great geologist Charles Lyell was right mountain chains were not created by sudden immense catastrophes but grew almost imperceptibly"(John Van Whye, CNN) -
Buena Vista Mexican American War
"War destroys everything in its path, leaving behind only a landscape of loss and ruin."(Allende)
”Buena Vista marked a turning point in the U.S.-Mexican War. Because Santa Anna decided to attack Taylor. Within the United States, Buena Vista was immediately hailed as the greatest of all U.S. victories. In spite of the inconclusive nature of the battle, the U.S. claimed victory Daniel Burge, “Buena Vista Furnace,” ExploreKYHistory -
Perez Rosales
"We are all on a journey, searching for something we cannot name, in lands we have yet to discover." Isabel Allende doesn't explicitly mention Perez Rosales
Perez Rosales was 41 years old when he sailed for California on December 28, 1848, in the company of three half brothers, a brother-in-law, two paid laborers and three servants. On board their ship were Chileans of all sorts, including a prostitute named Rosario Amestica. (American Experience, Gold Rush Article Vicente Perez) -
President Zach Taylor and Vice President, Millard Fillmore are sworn into office.
"History unfolds beyond our control, driven by the ambitions of men and the whims of fate, while we struggle to find our place in its tides."(Allende)
While this doesn't mention Taylor or Fillmore explicitly, it reflects the broader political upheaval and the influence of leadership.
”Zachary Taylor, an Episcopalian, refused to take the presidential oath of office on a Sunday. This led to a curious situation in which the United States was "without" a president for a day.” -
Moby Dick Published
A quote from Daughter of Fortune that reflects a spirit of adventure and obsession, which aligns with Moby-Dick, is:"She felt that life was a vast, uncharted ocean, where each wave could carry her to either fortune or doom."
”In order to secure Melville’s copyright in the US and in Great Britain, Moby Dick was published almost simultaneously in both places. The novel was published in London by Richard Bentley on October 18, 1851, and then in the US, by Harper and Brothers, on November 14, 1851.”