California Land Grants were legal agreements that provided parcels of land to individuals or groups, primarily during the Spanish and Mexican periods of California's history. These grants were intended to encourage settlement and agricultural development in the region. After California became a U.S. state in 1850, many of these grants were contested, leading to legal disputes over land ownership. The process of validating these land grants was formalized through the California Land Act of 1851, which established a commission to review claims. Successful claimants received titles to their land, while others faced challenges, resulting in a complex legacy of land ownership in California.