California’s Political Culture

1. California’s Political Culture POSC 140 Introduction to CA Governments Braunwarth

3. New State Seal?

4. The name "California" came from a 1510 knightly romance book that was published in 1510 It was about an island paradise near the Indies where beautiful Queen Califia ruled over a country of beautiful black Amazons with lots of pearls and gold. Men were only allowed there one day a year to help perpetuate the race. Cortez's men thought they found the island in 1535, because they found pearls.

5. European Exploration • Europeans found the new world as a barrier in their search for India • But soon discovered riches here • Spain gained a foothold when Cortez defeated the Aztecs in Mexico • The first European to reach Alta California was Juan Cabrillo who landed in San Diego on September 28, 1542

6. European Settlers • Spanish colony from 1769-1821 • Russia had some whaling and fur trapping settlements in the North • Spain sent in catholic priests to convert the natives into loyal Catholics Spaniards • England also realized the value of the new world and harassed the Spanish but ceased to be a threat after the American Revolution

7. Mission Period • Began in 1769 with Gaspar Portola and Junipero Serra in San Diego • Spanish missions brought disease and devastation to the native peoples and their cultures • Conversion became increasingly unsuccessful • Resulted in virtual slavery of the natives • Indians eventually revolted and the missions were left to deteriorate

9. What’s our local legacy of the Mission Period?

11. Rancho Period • After the collapse of the missions, the Spanish king and then Mexican government (1822) gave people land grants to start ranchos and encourage settlement • Also gave to Anglos to encourage loyalty to Spain/Mexico • Anglos tended to accept the land but remain loyal to the U.S.

12. Increasing Autonomy • Settlers were increasingly unhappy with Mexican rule • 1836 Juan Bautista Alvarado took over, evicted the Mexicans and declared California “free and independent” • Mexico responded with Laws of 1837: • Gov. (Alvarado)/7 member elected legislature/judicial system • Local government was dominated by the Alcalde (judge/mayor/police)

13. Early U.S. Influence • 1826 Jedediah Smith travels overland in search of beaver pelts • 1835 Richard Henry Dana collected cow hides along the coast • 1841 first overland wagon visitors • 1842 Commodore Jones prematurely captures Monterey • 1846 Donner party

14. Mexican-American War • 1846 U.S. declared war on Mexico and seized California • sparked by John C. Fremont in the bear flag revolt • 1848 war ended with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • End of Mexican sovereignty in California

15. The Gold Rush • 1848 gold found in the American River • 100,000s rushed in • S.F. pop’n went from 600 to 25,000 • was a redwood forest • Miners form mining districts and draft mining codes

16. The Gold Rush • Changed the social landscape: • within 1 year Anglos outnumber Mexicans and natives • Frustrated miners vented frustration in ethnic conflict • Native Americans population declined from 150,000 in 1846 to 30,000 in 1850 • In large part from genocide including bounties subsidized by local, state, and federal governments

17. Statehood • 1849 drafted Constitution • Admitted as 31st state on 9/9/1850 • first met in San Jose • “legislature of 1,000 drinks”

19. Railroad/The Octopus • Solution to California’s isolation • Responsibility goes to Theodore Judah • Funded by the Big Four • Leland Stanford (grocer/Governor), Collis P. Huntington (hardware), Charles Crocker (dry goods), Mark Hopkins (hardware) • The Big Four gained great wealth and political power through transportation monopolies and political corruption

20. Railroad Completion • Ironically, the completion of the railroad in 1869 ushered in an economic depression • Chinese workers suffered as scapegoats by Dennis Kearney and the Workingman’s Party • New Constitution in 1879 contained strong anti-Chinese provisions • Depression was followed by a period of economic growth

21. Economic Growth 19th - 20th c. • Agriculture (wheat and citrus), • Oil (1920s boom), • and Films • Accompanied by labor struggle: • unionized sailors, dock workers, agricultural workers, etc. • L.A. remained staunchly anti-union led by Otis at the L.A. Times

22. Southern Pacific & CA • Late 19th c. California politics dominated by the Southern Pacific • After particularly abusive election of 1906, sentiment against the SP grew • 1908 voters approved constitutional amendment permitting direct primary • Ending system of nomination so successfully used by SP • Ushered in the Progressive Movement

23. CA Progressive Movement • Led by Hiram Johnson (Gov. in 1910, Senator 1916) • Increased democratization: • Initiative (people make laws directly) • Referendum (veto acts of the legislature) • Recall (remove elected officials from office)

24. Reformers • Worked to end political corruption (Boss Ruef in S.F.) • Katherine Edson worked for safe food, suffrage (1911), working conditions, minimum wage (1913) • Regulated railroad and public utility rates

25. Great Depression • Bust of 1930s after boom of 1920s • Nativists sought scapegoats to blame • Filipinos, Mexicans, Japanese, dust bowl refugees • Intensified labor struggles • Intensified North-South conflict • North actually seceded Dec. 6 1941 • Why didn’t this create more uproar?

26. Politics of the Depression • Gov. “Sunny” Jim Rolph (Rep) 1930 couldn’t cope • Upton Sinclair (novelist and former socialist) ran for Gov. as a Democrat in 1934 • Defeated in particularly vitriolic campaign • Gov. Olson (Dem) 1938 tried to implement New Deal

27. California’s Political Culture • In what ways is California diverse? • People (many immigrants) • Geography (coast, desert, mountains) • Regions (North/South, Inland/Coast) • Resources (gold, water, oil, agriculture) • Economy (Post-Industrial two-tier) • How do these factors shape California’s political culture or regional subcultures?