Early California History

Pre-European California 400,000 Native Americans small bands, linguistically diverse mostly peaceful technologically and politically primitive

Europeans Arrive--1500s The legend of Queen Califia Cabrillo and Drake explore the coast

Spanish settlement of Alta California Junipero Serra’s Franciscans found 21 missions and the military establish 4 presidios to strengthen Spain’s claim– against, Britain, US, and Russia.

Mexican Period Mexican independence from Spain Discontinuing support for missions Establishing a “nobility” based on land grant ranchos 1846 “Bear Flag” rebellion

From Mexico to US Mexican-American War breaks out in 1846 over annexation of Texas Mexico forced to cede California and much of the West for about $15,000,000.

Mexican perspective: los ninos heroes de Chapultepec

Gold Rush 1849 population booms 30 fold in 6 years and becomes 80% Euro-American

Statehood Military governor of CA initiates a constitutional convention in 1849 Leading Californios continue to play major political role New Constitution recognizes their land grants, and recognizes both English and Spanish as official languages Accepted into the Union as a free state--1850

Transcontinental railroad completed 1877 Opens CA to the East Rise of Southern Pacific Railroad as dominant force in politics and economy

The Big Four--Stanford, Huntington, Crocker, and Hopkins Stanford served as Governor, then Senator, but all four partners “ran” CA in the late 19th century

Resentment Great Railroad Strike of 1877 SF had a tradition of powerful working class Denis Kearney leads the Workingmen’s Party against SPR’s power and abuses But also against the 1000s of Chinese workers brought over to work in mines and then the railroad for a fraction of what was paid whites riot of launderies burned, etc.

Kearney and Workingmen’s Party

Anti-Asian sentiment New constitution of 1879 gave all local governments the power to exclude or restrict where Chinese lived and forbade their employment Federal Exclusion Act of 1882 restricting immigration of Chinese laborers (later all Chinese) similar restrictions for Japanese and eventually Filippinos

Great Depression ,000s of dustbowl refugees migrate here "California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot If you ain't got the do re mi." Okie culture

1934 Governor’s race Former socialist and author of The Jungle, Upton Sinclair, runs for office as a Democrat and New Dealer on EPIC platform Is smeared in first professional media campaign

Growing Radicalism of the Depression era unions organize and strike--previously the “Wobblies,” now the Communist Party among others Over 50 strikes of farm workers in 1933

Salinas strike of Growers brought over Filipinos to work in fields after WWI and exclusion of Chinese and Japanese Growers split striking Filipino lettuce pickers from white shed workers

San Francisco General Strike 1934 Strike shuts down shipping on West Coast Entire Bay Area is shut down for 3 day General Strike after police force picketing longshoremen to allow in “scabs”

Again, economic downturn leads to greater xenophobia 100,000s of Mexicans are pushed out or deported anti-Filipino riots break out, and they are “invited” to leave under the Filipino Repatriation Act of 1935