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California History, Politics and Government Chapters 1-3 Gerston and Christensen

California History, Politics and Government Chapters 1-3 Gerston and Christensen. 1 A history of California’s people, economy and politics Early history – Native American tribes Northeast, area rich in acorn and Salmon, grass seeds, tuber berries, rabbit and deer, obsidian trade

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California History, Politics and Government Chapters 1-3 Gerston and Christensen

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  1. California History, Politics and Government Chapters 1-3 Gerston and Christensen • 1 A history of California’s people, economy and politics • Early history – Native American tribes • Northeast, area rich in acorn and Salmon, grass seeds, tuber berries, rabbit and deer, obsidian trade • Modoc, Achumawi, and Atsugewi tribes, suffered population decline due to vigilante violence and respiratory diseases • Modoc resisted American encroachment militarily – removal to Oregon territory • Northwest, rainforest environment, Redwood trees used to make rectangular gabled homes • Tolowa, Shasta, Karok, Yurok

  2. California History, Politics and Government Chapters 1-3 Gerston and Christensen • Early history – Native American tribes • Central California = Bear river, Pomo, Coast Miwok, abundant food supply, villages of up to 1000 individuals, including craft specialists • Southern California rich marine resources, animal life bays, wetlands environments, rabbit, deer, seeds, sheep • Chumash, Serrano, Kumeyaay • from 100 to 1000 people villages

  3. California – from Spanish colony to a Mexican state • Spanish colonization through California missions, coercive religious, labor camps organized to benefit the colonizers • Spanish introduced stock animals (horses, cattle, hogs) ate up native foods, undermining self-sufficient, independent economy • Epidemic diseases most significant factor in overcoming native resistance (60% population die) • Mission system

  4. Indians and the Mexican Republic 1823 • 1824 Mexican Republic declared Indians to be citizens with rights to both vote and hold public office (reality, treated as slaves) • More than 20,000 Central Valley Miwok, Yokuts perished and by 1840 due to diseases • Forced labor and violence, 310,000 down to ½ survivors

  5. American invasion • Indians fight alongside Americans against Mexican government • U.S. gains Mexican states through Mexican/American War 1846-1848; Mexicans can choose U.S. citizens

  6. American invasion • Discovery of gold 1848 dispossession of land, widespread sexual assault and mass murder against native people • 100,000 Indian peoples killed in first 2 years of gold rush • California becomes free state of U.S. in 1850, bilingual constitution, legalized slavery Indians, indenture children of victims

  7. Territories (1848)

  8. Economy • Southern Pacific Railroad industry dominant transportation co. and largest landowner 1880

  9. Politics - late 19th century • Railroad political machine • Progressives reform agenda (white middle class professionals) “good government” opposed political machine and immigration (Japanese) • Workingmen’s Party (Irish white working class opposition to railroad and blames Chinese) • Grangers (small farmers)

  10. Politics - Great Depression and WWII • 1920s and 1930s Labor unrest and Democrats. Upton Sinclair in 1934 • California’s population grew more than 2 million in 1920s - most headed for Los Angeles -Shipping, filmmaking and manufacturing • WWII economic boom; radio, electronics, aircraft - brought in new immigrants - Republican governors • Post war 1958 - Democrats built infrastructure, Water Projects, higher education.

  11. Economy today • Agribusiness (today 5th largest supplier in world) • Movie industry (southern CA) • Manufacturing Defense and aerospace industry (southern CA since WWII) and high tech industries (northern CA) • Services • High Cost of housing

  12. 2: Political Parties and direct democracy • Legacy of Progressivism ridding railroad-dominated political machines Weak political political parties Direct Democracy • Interest groups politics dominates • Personal appeal and candidate-centered campaigns, media manipulation, high spending not funded by parties so individuals with money can directly influence

  13. Legacy of ProgressivismDirect Democracy • Initiative (legislation proposed by any citizen that is circulated through a petition phase to qualify for the ballot) • Referendum (petition from citizens to seek an election to put legislation that has passed the executive and legislature up to a vote of the citizenry. The referendum provides a form of citizen veto for legislation. • Recall (remove elected official from office)

  14. 3: Voters, Candidates, Campaigns, and Media: Mix of Money and Marketing • Voters: not representative cross section of actual population, electorate not representative • Suburbanites, Republicans who are richer, better educated, older, homeowners, white

  15. Candidates • Most start at bottom, run for school board and work way up. • Wealthy run for higher offices directly (Meg Whitman $59 million) • Latinos – growing power • Asians Most underrepresented (3%) • Women (37%)

  16. Elections, Campaigns and Media • Political Action Committee (PACs) • TV ads - (80% of all spending) • Direct mail - special targeted mailing • Negative messages work - attacks • Personality oriented • Media and money influence politics greater in California than in other states

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