1. CALIFORNIA: A
Map from 1650 (restored) depicting California
HISTORY
Brandon Richards

2. Ch. 1Queen Calafia’s Island
 Early history of California began as myth
 Montalvo’s Las Sergas de Esplandian chronicled a race
of black Amazons – Californians – under the control of
Queen Calafia
 –
The Californians rode griffins and fought with golden
weapons; the area, itself, abound in precious stones and
gold
 By the end of the story, Calafia, and the Californians,
had become Christians; the Queen married a lieutenant
and had further adventures

3.  While California appears quiet and serene from above, below it is a brewing
of activity of clashing tectonic plates – which helped to give California the
shape of its terrain
 Josiah Royce observed no lack of subtlety in California’s landscape: they
proclaim a bold and heroic arrangement
 California houses 4 key ports: San Diego, San Francisco, Monterey, and
Humboldt; the San Fran. harbor is considered amongst the top naturally
formed harbors
 The dropping and rising of mountain ranges gives with it stark contrasts of
the horizon

4.  More than 25 generations of Native Americans have made their history in
California
 In 1492, with initial European contact with the U.S., an estimated 1/3 –
more than 300,000 – Native Americans were living within the boundaries of
what is now California
 Many, many tribes inhabited the state: Yuki, Tolowa, Karok, Hoopa, Pomo,
Maidu – and many more.
 With this abundance of people, many linguistic/cultural features dot the
state

5. Ch. 10 O Brave New World!
 California has been a hub of technology for decades
 Aviation technology was perfected in CA not long after its introduction; by
the 30s, we were leading the way in atom-smashing; by the 50s, we helped
to usher in digital technology via semiconductor breakthroughs
 At the top, CA reigns in Bio-Technology
 California has always been friendly and open to the pursuit of a truth or
idea

6.  Ingenuity has been abound in California before, and following, the
establishing of universities: the Pelton turbine – invented by Lester
Pelton – helped to change waterwheel technology; Joseph Neri,
after experimenting with electrical arc lighting, introduced electrical
arc lights/reflectors on the Centennial July 4th, 1876 –
demonstrating, for the first time in the world, public illumination via
electricity; John Montgomery pioneered heavier-than-air flight, and
was the first to ever record a flight: traveling a 600-foot distance at a
15-foot altitude; George Davidson, James, Lick, Richard Samuel
Floyd, and George Ellery Hale helped to pioneer large-lens
observatories; Lee de Forest, and Edwin Howard Armstrong
pioneered amplifiers/oscillators to help broadcast music and voices;
and many more inventions by many others

7.  One of the largest contributions technology-wise from California was from
the Intel company, specifically Ted Hoff, who invented a processor chip that
allowed programmed intelligence through software
 Hoff’s microprocessor was 1/16th of an inch long and had the calculating
power of the ENIAC computer of 1945, which had to be housed across an
expanse of 3,000-cubic ft.
 With this breakthrough of processing power/ability, people such as Steve
Jobs and Steve Wozniak, would help to lead the way to the mass market of
personal computers

8. Ch. 12 Ecumenopolis
 Diversity has always been a large part of California’s history
 Native Americans and Mexicans were a primary force in the state; however,
later, Spanish found its way in – people would claim to be “Spaniards,” but,
only in reference to the crown
 The arrival of English, French, and Russian settlers helped the diversity
flourish even more; the Gold Rush, also, brought with it a plethora of
diverse peoples; also, the immigration of people from China, Japan, and
Korea was, of course, mainly into California

9.  As diversity increases, so, too, does discrimination
 The Spanish were not too privy to the Natives when they arrived; in the late 19th
century, growing anti-Chinese sentiment grew: crusades such as “Chinese Must
Go”; anti-Japanese sentiment was also voiced in the vein of a “White California”
– looking back, it now seems funny that these movement grew in San Francisco
 By the early 20th century, San Fran had the highest proportion of foreign-born
residents relative to population than any other state
 Besides the anti-Asian movements in the 19th century, the largest discriminatory
campaigns/events/what-have-you was standard white and black division
 Two major examples: Watts Riot (1965) and LA Riots (1995)

10.  The current problem facing California is that of illegal immigrants
 With it, of course, comes vast anti-illegal sentiment
 One issue faced – and still faced – is the debate regarding the inclusion –
rather, catering to – Spanish-only teaching; however, the de facto language
of California is English, and many consider it necessary for anyone entering
and wishing to stay
 Allegiances to past culture should be somewhat shelved if one is to
become a citizen; when one identifies as a citizen of California – and the
U.S. – it shall be the prevalent identity if an immigrant is to become a part
of the culture