Bernarda Ruiz Rodriguez

Background

Ruiz was born in Santa Barbara, California, the daughter of a sergeant and an heiress.

Career

Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont, along with a band of 400 men, took over Santa Barbara and made their base a hotel next to Ruiz"s home, from which they were planning an attack on Los Los Angeles The 10 minutes became several hours, while she laid out a plan for "a "generous peace" that would include Pico"s pardon, release of prisoners, equal rights for all Californians, respect of property rights, and the opportunity for Mexican citizens to peaceably return to Mexico if they wanted". After convincing Fremont, Ruiz met with Mexican Governor Andrés Pico, who arranged to draft the Treaty of Cahuenga almost entirely from Ruiz"s suggestions.

This Treaty became the basis of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which formally ended the Mexican–American War and ceded the Southwest to America.

Achievements

• Knowing that the Americans were likely to win, Ruiz requested, and was granted, a 10-minute audience with Fremont.