Diversity l Physical diversity –Geography (coast; mountains; valley) –Water availability –Resources (climate; gold; opportunity) l Population (waves of immigration) l Economic (post-industrial; $9B; 2-tier)

Early History l Native Californians originally from Asia-- 25,000 years ago--peaceable, nomadic l Early colonial settlers--late 1500’s l Spanish missions (via Mexico) circa 1769 l Native Americans numbered 300,000 l Brought into missions as Catholic converts l E.g., Chief Estanislau (Stanislaus - saint)

Early History l Spanish did little to develop California except build missions l Disease destroyed many Native Americans l 1822 Mexico declared independence from Spain l 1846 Mexican-American War--Mexico sold western states for $15 M in treaty

Modernization l Gold rush (1849) –Population doubled every 6 months –1846: 9,000; 1852: 264,000 l 1850 California admitted to union –Sept st state –Slave free requirement l Southern Pacific RR (1861) –Hopkins, Crocker, Huntington, Stanford –Strong federal support

Constitution Making l 1849 First Constitution follows convention –Hybrid document w/compromises –Bill of Rights (16 sections) –Plural Executive (several elected officers) –Bicameral Legislature –4 tier judicial system –Only white males vote but married women had property rights

1849 Constitution (cont.) l Bilingual requirement for Constitution l Separate provision for public education l Limit public debt l Model based on Pennsylvania & other states

Modernization l “Machine model” of government –Localities support Rail Road –Jackson’s model of political spoils l Late 1800’s Recession l Populist reaction –Denis Kearney & Workingmen’s Party –Grange Movement & small farmers l Second Constitutional Convention (1878-9)

1879 Constitution l Political Compromise: –Large financial interests (banks, corporations, landowners) regulated –Farmer/ Railroad feuds –Urban workers/ Business & Chinese –State Board of Equalization (local tax)

1879 Constitution (cont.) l Specific provisions for local governments –Grand jury required every year l Restricted legislative domain (33 areas proscribed) l Plural executive (Constitutional officers) l Tax support of charities, orchards & vineyards, etc. l No bilingual requirement

Progressive Movement l “Good government” reformers from new middle class l Hiram Johnson became governor, 1910 l Public Utilities Commission created l Weakened political parties and bosses l Direct democracy initiatives l Banned land ownership by immigrants

The Great Depression l Growth in 1920s l Dust Bowl shifted population to Central Valley l Federal Water Projects in 1930s transformed the Central Valley

Post World War II l Economic boom of 1950s and ‘60s l Edmund G. (Pat) Brown and public infrastructure –Water projects –Higher education –State highway network

Proposition 13 Reaction l Citizen-led tax revolt l Limited property tax rates and increases l Continued population growth l Competing demands for: –Housing –Water –Clean air l Growing inequality