2. Seeking Utopia Through Science and Technology
Geology
1847 Yale founded the Sheffield
Scientific School, brought talented
geologists to California
California Academy of
Sciences, goal to survey state and
collect rare and rich productions
Geological Survey, measuring
heights and land formations
Mining, brought about invention of
the Pelton turbine
In 1880 Lester Pelton
patented the water
turbine, multiplied power of
running water Yosemite Valley
New basis for hydro-electrical
generation
Conservation
Transfer of Yosemite Valley to
federal jurisdiction 1890
Advocated creation of National
Park System
3. Seeking Utopia Through Science and Technology
The new age of Flight
James Montgomery, experiments heavier-than-air air glider
On August 1883 altitude of fifteen feet, it glided for six hundred feet, and safely landed
Wright brothers heavier-than-air craft December 17, 1903 in North Carolina
California capitalizes on invention
January 1910, Los Angeles County Chamber of Commerce, air show
Astronomy
James Lick, died October 1876, left funds to build observatory for most powerful
telescope on the planet
The Lick Observatory
Mount Hamilton Santa Clara County
Given to University of California
The Hooker telescope, Pasadena December 1908, increased observable universe by
300 percent
George Ellery Hale introduced a 200 inch disk upgrade turning Throop Polytechnic
Institute into a first rate center of scientific research
4. Seeking Utopia Through Science and Technology
Electronics
Transcontinental phone
calls, radio, television, and high speed
electrons
Semiconductor- Replaced vacuum tube with
nonmetallic solid material
Bardeen and Brattain used crystal germanium
William Shockley, Palo Alto, 1956 founded
Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory
Goal to produce silicone transistor
Intel Corporation, invented microchip
processor Macintosh SE, first apple computer
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
Mission make computers available to
millions of Americans
Apple I prototype
Biotechnological research
Lawrence Laboratory at Berkley
Epicenter for further nuclear research
5. Art and Life on the Coast of Dreams
Film
Industrialization of film production emerged in Hollywood in the 1920’s
Reliably good weather
Distance from subpoena servers to avoid suits against producers not willing to pay
what they thought was fair for licensing and reel footage fees
For the first time, Americans caught glimpses of life in California
Mid 30s takeover of Germany by National Socialism
Mass emigration of talented Europeans
Southern California provided opportunities for employment in the film industry
Writing, inspiration of 1940s film, with detective stories, preoccupation with California themes
of nature, naturalism, and bohemia
Simplistic relationship to nature, urban matters, with solipsistic drama of self vs. society
1950’s brought anguish of postwar generation oppressed by materialism, refuge with
sex, drugs, and rebellion
6. Art and Life on the Coast of Dreams
Painting
1920’s Landscapes in Postimpressionist style
Social Realism to California brought by the depression
Daily life, backyard BBQ, suburbia, Sunday
afternoon
1930’s popularity of murals exploded
Expressive and figurative paintings flourished in 1940s
Photography
Depression brought true photographic realism. Attention turned to
social turmoil
Architecture
Arts and crafts inspired style first two decades
Modernism appeared pre-World War I era, clean
lines, surfaces, minimalist presentation
Characterize high end architecture
1950s postwar building boom
Domestic tradition
California Ranch style
7. Art and Life on the Coast of Dreams
Music
Sound in motion pictures, composers 1930s
Took musical modernism to new heights
Jazz orchestra, progressive modes
Fusing of pop and modernism
Intensification of country music with the migration from Dust Bowl states during the depression
Outdoor life
Middle class Californians opportunity to recreation typically for upper class
San Francisco Bay Area 1860s, German immigrants founded Olympic Club
Swimming, free public surf, rough water swimming, and boating clubs
California 1907 Anglo-Hawaiian brought surfing
Became icon of the California lifestyle
Baseball in California flourished in 1859
Mountaineering, skiing, rock climbing, windsurfing and hang gliding
8. Forging a World Society
Gold rush
“World Rushed In”, nearly every country sent people to
California, diversity
California founded on racial distinctions and repression
Disenfranchisement of Blacks and Asians
Aggression against Mexican land titles
Anti-Japanese, “White California” segregation of school
children, barring from land ownership, incarceration of
Japanese-Americans during WWII
LA emerged as one of most important centers of Jewish
civilization
Anti-Semitism swept California between WWI and
WWII
In the early 1900’s, San Francisco had more foreign born
residents relative to population than any other city in U.S.
Influx of Mexicans, Filipinos, Japanese, Sikhs, and Koreans
Armenians migrated, fleeing Ottoman Turkish persecution
When WWII came along, more African Americans came to
California to work
9. Forging a World Society
1965 Immigration and Nationality Acts-
Reforming immigration laws
Excluded groups now as equal
immigrations, favored reuniting families
Refugees from Southeast Asia and
Bangladesh migrated to California
Racial, ethnic, and religious covenants of
exclusion in real estate
Continuing division between blacks and whites
Watts riots of 1965
Los Angeles riots of 1992
O.J. Simpson trial of 1995 Illegal border crossing in the act
Illegal Immigration
1993 ranked one of three major problems in
California; along with crime and the economy
“Save Our State” Prop 187, November
1994, withdrawal of public support for
undocumented Californians
Passed but never implemented, states
can’t regulate immigration
Illegal immigrants costing state great
deal of money
10. Forging a World Society
Affirmative Action
1998 race and gender based preferences at
universities ended
California Civil Rights Initiative, Prop
209, November 1996, outlawing affirmative
action
1998 Prop 227
Disestablishment of California bilingual education
program, replaced with one year immersion in English
language proficiency
Economy of California reliant on undocumented
workers
Gov. Davis’ bill authorizing issuance of drivers
licenses to undocumented workers
Struck opposition, repealed once
Schwarzenegger became Governor
Californians are becoming more like each other
Common culture of California uniting
