California Teacher Credentialing Examination (CSET) Practice Test

The primary purpose of the Land Commission in early California was indeed to settle land disputes among Californios. Following the U.S. acquisition of California after the Mexican-American War, there was significant confusion regarding land ownership. The Land Commission was established to evaluate and confirm land titles initially granted under Spanish and Mexican law. This process aimed to resolve conflicts between the incoming American settlers and the existing landowners, known as Californios, who had their own claims to land under previous legal systems. By addressing these disputes, the commission played a crucial role in establishing legal land ownership and ensuring that rights were respected amid the transition to U.S. governance.

Other options, like promoting agricultural development or facilitating immigration, were not the direct responsibilities of the Land Commission—these activities were often outcomes of land settling but not the primary focus of the commission's efforts. Similarly, while granting land titles to settlers did happen, it was a consequence of resolving disputes rather than the main purpose of the commission itself.