CALIFORNIA: A HISTORYCALIFORNIA: A HISTORY

Chapter I Chapter I

Guy Heffernan Guy Heffernan

California is America’s California is America’s most populous state. most populous state. As of 2005 Cal. is the As of 2005 Cal. is the 55thth ranked economy in ranked economy in the world. The 5 the world. The 5 county L.A. area has county L.A. area has 20.6 million people, 20.6 million people, that alone would make that alone would make the 4the 4thth largest state in largest state in the U.S. The L.A. the U.S. The L.A. school district reports school district reports some 92 languages in some 92 languages in use among students. use among students. The port of L.A. is the The port of L.A. is the busiest in the nation. busiest in the nation.

1533- Hernan Cortez 1533- Hernan Cortez landed his ship on landed his ship on what they believed to what they believed to be a island, in the be a island, in the recently discovered recently discovered Pacific. They called Pacific. They called the island California the island California after a mythical place.after a mythical place.

1540-The Spanish 1540-The Spanish discover there discover there mistake, Cal. was a mistake, Cal. was a peninsula, not an peninsula, not an island.island.

California is a result of California is a result of the collision of two the collision of two tectonic plates, and is tectonic plates, and is 158,693 sq. miles in 158,693 sq. miles in area, with 1,264 miles area, with 1,264 miles of shoreline. of shoreline.

San Francisco bay is one of San Francisco bay is one of the finest natural harbors in the finest natural harbors in the world.the world.

Cal. has several formidable Cal. has several formidable mountain ranges, the mountain ranges, the Transverse, and Peninsula Transverse, and Peninsula ranges running south, and ranges running south, and the Klamath and Cascade the Klamath and Cascade ranges in the north. Then ranges in the north. Then there’s the Sierra Nevada's, there’s the Sierra Nevada's, 4 hundred miles long and 4 hundred miles long and 80 miles wide. Mt Whitney is 80 miles wide. Mt Whitney is the second highest in the the second highest in the continental U.S. at 14,496 continental U.S. at 14,496 ft. Mt. Shasta is 14,162ft. ft. Mt. Shasta is 14,162ft. and nearby Mt. Lasson, was and nearby Mt. Lasson, was an active volcano till 1921. an active volcano till 1921. The central valley is 430 The central valley is 430 miles long, with the miles long, with the Sacramento Valley to the Sacramento Valley to the north, and the San Joaquin north, and the San Joaquin Valley to the south. There’s Valley to the south. There’s the Mojave Desert in the the Mojave Desert in the southeast, and the Salton southeast, and the Salton Trough coming up from Trough coming up from Baja. Baja.

California sits on or adjacent California sits on or adjacent to numerous fault lines such to numerous fault lines such as , the San Andreas, the as , the San Andreas, the Hayward, the Garlock, the San Hayward, the Garlock, the San Jacinto, and the Nacimento, Jacinto, and the Nacimento, which keeps the region alive which keeps the region alive with tectonic action.with tectonic action.

60 miles from Mt. Whitney, 60 miles from Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the state, the highest point in the state, lies Death Valley, the lowest lies Death Valley, the lowest point in the continent at point in the continent at 282ft. below sea level, where 282ft. below sea level, where in 1913 the temperature in 1913 the temperature reached 134 degrees.reached 134 degrees.

Coastal Cal. is compared to Coastal Cal. is compared to the Mediterranean for it’s the Mediterranean for it’s moderate climate between moderate climate between 40-72 degrees. There are two 40-72 degrees. There are two major river systems, the major river systems, the Sacramento river running Sacramento river running north to south, and the San north to south, and the San Joaquin River running south to Joaquin River running south to north.north.

Off Monterey Bay lies a great Off Monterey Bay lies a great under sea chasm, as wide and under sea chasm, as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon. deep as the Grand Canyon.

In the north the Giant In the north the Giant Redwood trees are among Redwood trees are among the largest and oldest the largest and oldest living entities in the world, living entities in the world, some up to 4000 years old.some up to 4000 years old.

Cal. is also home to bears, Cal. is also home to bears, the Black, the Brown, and the Black, the Brown, and the Great Grizzly, along the Great Grizzly, along with the Mountain Lion.with the Mountain Lion.

Cal. has many native Cal. has many native Indian Tribes which Indian Tribes which considered early Cal. a considered early Cal. a paradise, abundant with paradise, abundant with fish and game, they found fish and game, they found little need for war, there little need for war, there was plenty for all.was plenty for all.

These native peoples These native peoples endured many atrocities endured many atrocities due to the influx of the due to the influx of the white man. white man.

Chapter 7 Great Expectations Chapter 7 Great Expectations Creating the Infrastructure of a Creating the Infrastructure of a

Mega-StateMega-State 1878-The California 1878-The California

legislature passed the legislature passed the Drainage Act, creating the Drainage Act, creating the position of state engineer position of state engineer and appropriating and appropriating $100,000 for irrigation $100,000 for irrigation drainage, and navigation drainage, and navigation studies. The state engineer studies. The state engineer ,William Hammond Hall ,William Hammond Hall laid out a comprehensive laid out a comprehensive program for the program for the development of Cal. Water development of Cal. Water projects.projects.

The Wright Act The Wright Act established the legal and established the legal and political framework that political framework that will disperse water will disperse water throughout the state. throughout the state.

1901- The Cal. Development 1901- The Cal. Development Co. dug a canal from the Co. dug a canal from the Colorado River to the Imperial Colorado River to the Imperial Valley.Valley.

1903-City engineers William 1903-City engineers William Mulholland (L.A.) and Michael Mulholland (L.A.) and Michael O’Shaughnessy (San Francisco) O’Shaughnessy (San Francisco) tapped the Owens River for tapped the Owens River for L.A. and the Tuolumne for S.F. L.A. and the Tuolumne for S.F. to bring water to those city's.to bring water to those city's.

1913-The L.A. Aqueduct is 235 1913-The L.A. Aqueduct is 235 miles long and reaches from miles long and reaches from the Owens River to the San the Owens River to the San Fernando Valley.Fernando Valley.

1923- The S.F. water pipelines 1923- The S.F. water pipelines and tunnels connect the and tunnels connect the Tuolumne River to San Tuolumne River to San Francisco. In both cases there Francisco. In both cases there was a lot of damage to the was a lot of damage to the environment, and there were environment, and there were charges of deception, double-charges of deception, double-dealing and conflict of interest.dealing and conflict of interest.

1930- L.A. is the leading 1930- L.A. is the leading Mexican American community Mexican American community in the U.S. , and many illegal's in the U.S. , and many illegal's are shipped back to Mexico. are shipped back to Mexico. Blacks are still represented as Blacks are still represented as second rate citizens. second rate citizens.

The L.A. Basin produced 230 million barrels of oil The L.A. Basin produced 230 million barrels of oil and 300 billion cubic ft. of natural gas. The oil wells and 300 billion cubic ft. of natural gas. The oil wells were everywhere.were everywhere.

Southern Cal. flourished in the 1920’s from Southern Cal. flourished in the 1920’s from manufacturing, to fishing, to oil,to the movie manufacturing, to fishing, to oil,to the movie industry, it’s rapid growth was astounding.industry, it’s rapid growth was astounding.

The ports of L.A., S.F., and San Diego became home The ports of L.A., S.F., and San Diego became home to large navy ports.to large navy ports.

1928-The St. Francis Dam near Saugus collapsed, 1928-The St. Francis Dam near Saugus collapsed, killing 400 people and devastated everything in its killing 400 people and devastated everything in its path.path.

1935-The monumental Boulder Dam was completed, 1935-The monumental Boulder Dam was completed, sending water from Lake Mead to southern Cal.sending water from Lake Mead to southern Cal.

1936-The S.F. to Oakland Bay bridge was completed.1936-The S.F. to Oakland Bay bridge was completed. 1937-The Golden Gate Bridge was completed, 1937-The Golden Gate Bridge was completed,

linking S.F. to the northern coast.linking S.F. to the northern coast. 1940-The first section of the Cal. Freeway system 1940-The first section of the Cal. Freeway system

was finished between Pasadena and L.A.was finished between Pasadena and L.A. Banks sprang up all over the state, lending to both Banks sprang up all over the state, lending to both

large and small business, adding to the economic large and small business, adding to the economic boom of Cal. boom of Cal.

Chapter 8 War and PeaceChapter 8 War and Peace 1846-California remained 1846-California remained

closely connected to the closely connected to the military, since it was seized military, since it was seized as an act of war.as an act of war.

1898-The Spanish-1898-The Spanish-American War formally American War formally established the U.S. as an established the U.S. as an Asia-Pacific power.Asia-Pacific power.

1914-The Navy establishes 1914-The Navy establishes it’s Pacific Fleet in San it’s Pacific Fleet in San Diego. Army, Navy, and Diego. Army, Navy, and Marine bases sprang up all Marine bases sprang up all over the state. S.F. and L.A. over the state. S.F. and L.A. developed important port developed important port and ship repair facilities and ship repair facilities both military and civilian. both military and civilian.

1936- The Japanese invade 1936- The Japanese invade Manchuria and start Manchuria and start expanding with military expanding with military force.force.

1939-Germany invades 1939-Germany invades Poland, and America at that Poland, and America at that time is trying to remain time is trying to remain neutral, with movements neutral, with movements like “America First”.like “America First”.

1941-Japan launches a 1941-Japan launches a sneak attack on Perl Harbor sneak attack on Perl Harbor Hawaii. The entire west Hawaii. The entire west coast is thrown into a panic, coast is thrown into a panic, and President Roosevelt and President Roosevelt declares war, first on Japan declares war, first on Japan and then Germany.and then Germany.

1942-A Jap sub surfaced in the 1942-A Jap sub surfaced in the Santa Barbara Channel, and Santa Barbara Channel, and fired across Pacific Coast Hwy. fired across Pacific Coast Hwy. into oil storage tanks. Anti-into oil storage tanks. Anti-aircraft artillery fired at an aircraft artillery fired at an unidentified plane in L.A. unidentified plane in L.A. Suspicion and prejudice is Suspicion and prejudice is evident against the Japanese evident against the Japanese people, even though they have people, even though they have many cultural influences in Cal., many cultural influences in Cal., going back many years.going back many years.

1942-President Roosevelt 1942-President Roosevelt signed executive order 9066, signed executive order 9066, allowing the War Dept. to allowing the War Dept. to remove suspicious people from remove suspicious people from military areas. Later he issued military areas. Later he issued order 9102 creating the Civilian order 9102 creating the Civilian War Relocation Authority to War Relocation Authority to establish relocation camps. establish relocation camps. Some 110,000 Japanese and Some 110,000 Japanese and others were placed behind others were placed behind barbed wire, where they stayed barbed wire, where they stayed for the next 3 yrs.for the next 3 yrs.

1943-S.F. Bay area emerged as 1943-S.F. Bay area emerged as the premier military command the premier military command center and port of departure center and port of departure and supply on the Pacific coast.and supply on the Pacific coast.

Camp Stoneman, north of S.F. Camp Stoneman, north of S.F. processed over 1 million processed over 1 million solders. solders.

1944-More than 2,200 German P.O.W.’s are held at camp 1944-More than 2,200 German P.O.W.’s are held at camp Stillman near S.F. The Marine Corps trains troops at the Stillman near S.F. The Marine Corps trains troops at the 122,798 acre Camp Pendleton, in north San Diego Cnty. 122,798 acre Camp Pendleton, in north San Diego Cnty. and established the El Toro air base in Orange Cnty.and established the El Toro air base in Orange Cnty.

Several riots break out between the thousands of soldiers Several riots break out between the thousands of soldiers based in L.A., and the Mexican-American Zoot-Suiter’s. based in L.A., and the Mexican-American Zoot-Suiter’s.

Henry Kaiser of Oakland builds more than 1,490 ships for Henry Kaiser of Oakland builds more than 1,490 ships for the war effort. Many African American’s and women work in the war effort. Many African American’s and women work in factories throughout Cal., the women were represented by factories throughout Cal., the women were represented by “Rosie the Riveter”.“Rosie the Riveter”.

1945-WWII ends with the surrender of Germany and Japan. 1945-WWII ends with the surrender of Germany and Japan. The war had sparked an economic and population boom in The war had sparked an economic and population boom in Cal. And building of new home tracts begins like never Cal. And building of new home tracts begins like never before.before.

The Cal. infrastructure became overwhelmed and needed The Cal. infrastructure became overwhelmed and needed new highways and schools. Disneyland depicts the new new highways and schools. Disneyland depicts the new utopian Cal. city.utopian Cal. city.

After WWII Cal. Economy was booming, with many new war After WWII Cal. Economy was booming, with many new war related business. Cal. became a post-war higher-education related business. Cal. became a post-war higher-education utopia in which all Californians would be offered the utopia in which all Californians would be offered the opportunity to maximize their potential. opportunity to maximize their potential.