The Mussel Slough Tragedy unfolded in May 1880 against the backdrop of California's rapid expansion and land disputes, particularly in the fertile San Joaquin Valley. At the heart of the conflict were settlers who claimed plots of land under a 1862 Homestead Act, which allowed individuals to claim land for farming. However, these lands were already claimed by the Southern Pacific Railroad under earlier legal arrangements, leading to significant tensions as the Railroad sought to assert its dominance and benefit from the rising demand for land. As settlers attempted to defend their claims against the Railroad's land agents, tempers flared, and hostile interactions became commonplace.

On May 11, 1880, a tense standoff escalated into a full-blown gunfight, known famously as the Mussel Slough Tragedy. The confrontation began when Railroad representatives arrived to survey the contested land. Out of concern for their livelihoods and legal rights, a group of settlers gathered to oppose the surveyors. An altercation quickly ensued, resulting in gunfire. In the ensuing chaos, seven people were killed, including both settlers and railroad agents, and several others were injured, leading to significant fallout and further legal battles regarding land ownership in the region.

The incident drew attention to the broader issues of land rights, corporate power, and the challenges faced by settlers in the West during a time of rapid expansion and development. It highlighted the often brutal struggles that defined the era and underscored the violent repercussions of land disputes, which were frequent during this period of American history.