California

California: a HistoryCalifornia: a History

By: Audria MuscaraBy: Audria Muscara

HIST 141 HIST 141

Dr. ArguelloDr. Arguello

Regulation, Railroad, and Revolution: Regulation, Railroad, and Revolution: Achievement and Turmoil in the New StateAchievement and Turmoil in the New State

A large portion of California land A large portion of California land was claimed as private property was claimed as private property so there was little land left for so there was little land left for growth and developmentgrowth and development

Land claims had to be validated Land claims had to be validated by a board of land by a board of land commissionerscommissioners

Many land titles switched from Many land titles switched from Mexican to Yankee ownershipMexican to Yankee ownership

The states capital moved from The states capital moved from San Francisco, to San Jose to San Francisco, to San Jose to Vallejo, then to Benicia before it Vallejo, then to Benicia before it was permanently brought back was permanently brought back to Sacramento.to Sacramento.

Regulation, Railroad, and Regulation, Railroad, and Revolution: Achievement and Revolution: Achievement and

Turmoil in the New StateTurmoil in the New State

As California was growing in the mid 19As California was growing in the mid 19thth century, century, many institutions of higher education were many institutions of higher education were establishedestablished

1852- The state prison Point San Quentin was 1852- The state prison Point San Quentin was establishedestablished

Multiple churches and synagogues were builtMultiple churches and synagogues were built Agriculture and the cattle industry was fueling the Agriculture and the cattle industry was fueling the

economy as much as the gold rush was.economy as much as the gold rush was. Most of southern California remained Hispanic and Most of southern California remained Hispanic and

rancho-based.rancho-based. Many adjusted to American order yet banditry Many adjusted to American order yet banditry

among the Hispanic remained a problemamong the Hispanic remained a problem

Regulation, Railroad, and Revolution: Regulation, Railroad, and Revolution: Achievement and Turmoil in the New StateAchievement and Turmoil in the New State

There was a rapid expansion of There was a rapid expansion of railroad service in the West that railroad service in the West that would link California to the rest would link California to the rest of the countryof the country

The Pacific railroadThe Pacific railroad Lincoln and congress passed the Lincoln and congress passed the

Pacific railway act of 1862.Pacific railway act of 1862. Laborers for the six year project Laborers for the six year project

were imported. Many were were imported. Many were Chinese immigrants.Chinese immigrants.

Making it Happen: Labor through the Great Making it Happen: Labor through the Great Depression and BeyondDepression and Beyond

The impact of the Great The impact of the Great Depression was not as crippling as Depression was not as crippling as it was to the East.it was to the East.

The hardest hit were the The hardest hit were the unemployed railroad workers; unemployed railroad workers; many who were threatened by the many who were threatened by the Chinese who were capable of doing Chinese who were capable of doing the same labor for less money.the same labor for less money.

Agriculture, however, fueled the Agriculture, however, fueled the economy and stayed on top economy and stayed on top employing more than 300,000 employing more than 300,000 people.people.

Making it Happen: Labor through the Great Making it Happen: Labor through the Great Depression and BeyondDepression and Beyond

1934- 1934- Longshoreman Longshoreman strike turned strike turned violent as workers violent as workers and law and law enforcement enforcement engaged in battle. engaged in battle.

Unions were established in California and Unions were established in California and workers would often strike; resulting in workers would often strike; resulting in violence and gun fight.violence and gun fight.

Cotton pickers strike- (1933) was the Cotton pickers strike- (1933) was the largest ever in the nations historylargest ever in the nations history

Making it Happen: Labor through the Great Making it Happen: Labor through the Great Depression and BeyondDepression and Beyond

Sacramento Sacramento Conspiracy TrialConspiracy Trial

During the dock During the dock strike, the agriculture strike, the agriculture workers union was workers union was raided and 24 were raided and 24 were arrested and charged arrested and charged with criminal with criminal syndicalism. syndicalism.

Many of those were Many of those were convicted but then convicted but then later released. later released.

An Imagined Place: Art and Life on the An Imagined Place: Art and Life on the Coast of DreamsCoast of Dreams

Southern California became the epicenter Southern California became the epicenter of the entertainment industry at the start of the entertainment industry at the start of the twentieth century.of the twentieth century.

Los Angeles and Hollywood is where the Los Angeles and Hollywood is where the directors and filmmakers came. Not only directors and filmmakers came. Not only was the climate and scenery so was the climate and scenery so picturesque, but it was far from the New picturesque, but it was far from the New Jersey based Trust which imposed taxes Jersey based Trust which imposed taxes on film production.on film production.

An Imagined Place: Art and Life on the An Imagined Place: Art and Life on the Coast of DreamsCoast of Dreams

New film studios were New film studios were established here in California. established here in California. This included Fox, Fine Arts, This included Fox, Fine Arts, Warner Bro’s and Paramount. Warner Bro’s and Paramount.

In the 1910’s there was an influx In the 1910’s there was an influx of film genres including of film genres including comedies, tragedies, drama’s, comedies, tragedies, drama’s, westerns, and biblical epics.westerns, and biblical epics.

Political influence was easily Political influence was easily conveyed in films during periods conveyed in films during periods of war.of war.

An Imagined Place: Art and Life on the An Imagined Place: Art and Life on the Coast of DreamsCoast of Dreams

California was also California was also attracting authors, attracting authors, artists, poets, and artists, poets, and photographers.photographers.

Painters were Painters were preoccupied with the preoccupied with the beautiful Californian beautiful Californian landscape. After the landscape. After the Great depression, social Great depression, social realism captured the realism captured the scenes of daily life in art.scenes of daily life in art.