This document provides an overview of the history and geography of California. It describes how California's diverse landscape was formed by tectonic activity and features coastal areas, mountains, deserts and valleys. It discusses the native populations that lived in different regions of California and relied on resources like acorns and fish. It also outlines California's growth in the 20th century, driven by the development of agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure like roads and bridges to connect communities throughout the state. However, it notes that California now faces financial challenges stemming from issues like spending, immigration and natural disasters.

1. 2010 Fall141 History/Americas Since 1800 71227
By EricOsterberg

2.  California..a “terrestrial paradise”. A true caricature of our my
home state. First named in 1539 by the Spanish (Hernan
Cortes), they believed it to be an island, but later discovered it
to be a peninsula (Baja California)
 Old California, not Baja, wouldn’t be settled 230 years later
 The rugged beauty from sea to desert, best described in the
book as a landscape of “clear cut and confrontational
topographies”
 Most Californians can access the coastline, mountains,
deserts, valleys and canyons within a couple of hours of
driving time confirming its uniqueness as a state

3.  The titanic action below the earth’s surface in California is
what fashioned the diverse landscape.
 The ongoing seismic activity is a regular reminder of the
turmoil below. Considerable damage due to many sizeable
earthquakes are well recorded in our states history
 With 1,264 miles of Pacific coastline, the topography quickly
changes to the towering mid-range mountains, and then to the
deserts where Death Valley sits 282 ft. below sea level
 The coastline is blessed with four natural harbors of varying
sizes. San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco, and the Humboldt
 These were of critical importance because the enabled safe
mooring and land access to early explorers

4.  1/3 of the early Native Americans groups lived in California.
Plentiful water and food, along with a acceptable weather,
supported their lifestyles.
 Native Americans occupied three different regions and had varied
lifestyles to suit their environment
 The staple food amongst all groups was the acorn. However,
Native Americans to the northeast were predominately fishermen,
coastal inhabitants relied on shellfish and fish, and the
hunter/gatherers of the interior regions
 Due to the abundant living in all areas, competition wasn’t
necessary, so most groups lived peacefully without conflict
 Unfortunately, like the rest of the country, Native American
populations were decimated after contact with “whites” due to
disease

5.  With statehood on Sept. 9th 1850, California experienced
steady growth. Men like William Hammond Hall realized that
water was the lifeblood to make the state fully “inhabitable
and productive”.
 Hall’s visionary efforts would pave the way for the California
of today
 Two water sources were identified: the Colorado and Owens
rivers. They would be tapped and water distribution to semi-
arid would allow habitation and development to occur
 The cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles would be the
burgeoning municipalities in the state early growth, both very
dependent upon imported water

6.  Agriculture played a large part in the early socio-
economic expansion of the state. With expansion – came
structural development and rapid population growth
ensued.
 By 1940 California swelled to 6.9 million people
 Population growth and a social hierarchy occurred with
growth, whites initially were the largest segment in the
demographic mix .
 As time progressed, the Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican
populations grew – integrating into communities.
 Development, manufacturing, fishing, and agriculture
were the main jobs supporting the growing populace

7. • Structurally speaking, the state was somewhat divided in parts
due to topography.
• By 1924 there were 310.000 automobiles on the roadways
• Bridges and roadways helped link geographical areas making
access easier and timely
• Los Angeles had the busiest intersection in the country with 69,797
cars traveling through it each day
• Roadway construction and freeway projects became a major
priority as engineers realized the dependence upon the automobile
as the primary means of transportation
• Architectural wonders like the Golden Gate bridge became icons of
the San Francisco area
• The Bank of America/Italy enabled many to live out their dreams
through employment and home ownership, and no doubt helping
California become what it is today

8.  California – a unique state, past, present, and surely in the
future. Unique and diverse in its land, people, and politics
 California has led the way in so many ways, and has been the
“litmus test” for in industry, politics, environmental causes,
and technology
 For years a more conservative state dominated by the
Republican Party for 110 years, times have changed of recent,
in some ways for the better, and in some ways worse
 Recently, during years of prosperity, the states operating
budget increased 40%, but that was the foreshadowing of
financially bleak times to come

9.  In 2003 things started to unravel financially with the state
experiencing a 38 million dollar shortfall in revenues
 Weather related incidents, fires, earthquakes, immigration, dot
com bust, and spendthrift politicians put the state in a
financial pit that it may not recover from without serious
budget cuts and a change in the way California conducts its
political and socio-economic business
 Voters elected Gov. Schwarzenegger to “terminate” business
as usual. Despite his initial success, thing haven’t gone to
well of recent
 California continues to struggle, dealing with a myriad of
challenging social, budgetary, political, and environmental
that won’t soon be resolved

10.  People, culture, movements, and events of significance have
identified and helped make California unique
 Notable politicians like President Ronald Reagan, Jerry
Brown, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
 The “hippy” era of the 60’s and the drug culture was
embedded here, especially in San Francisco
 Notable protests like the regarding free speech and war
protesting, especially at UC Berkeley where 750 students
were arrested after a sit-in
 Conservatism and Liberalism were at war. Different lifestyle
choices were acceptable here, most notably the gay lifestyle
that took hold geographically in San Francisco also