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California Online
California's History
Early California
People
have lived in California for thousands of years. California's
first residents migrated throughout the region. They hunted
small animals, gathered wild nuts and berries, or fished in
inland streams and along the Pacific coast. Deserts and high
mountains often separated these groups from one another. The
Shasta, Pomo, Miwok, and Chumash peoples settled along the coast,
the Mojave in the southeast, and the Yokuts in the Central Valley.
The seafaring explorer, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, claimed California
for Spain in 1542. It was not until 1769, however, that Spain
began to colonize the region. Catholic missionary priests established
missions to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Forts
and towns were also founded. Some of these settlements, such
as San Francisco, San Jose, and San Diego, later developed into
major cities. They now rank among the largest urban areas in
the United States.
California
Becomes a State
In 1821, control of California
passed from Spain to Mexico. Mexico's rule over the region,
however, was weak. Only about 15,000 Spanish and Mexican settlers
lived in California during the early 1800s. During the 1840s,
many Americans–sea traders, explorers, fur trappers, and
settlers–reached California. The new American residents
wanted California to become part of the United States. In 1846,
Americans in California revolted against Mexican rule. They
raised the Bear Flag as the banner of the California Republic
and joined the United States in its war against Mexico. An invading
U.S. army helped win control of California. In the Treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo, California was included in the territory
Mexico gave to the United States. In 1850, California joined
the Union as the 31st state.
Growth and
Development
The same year that California
came under American rule, gold was discovered along California's
American River. In 1849, thousands of "forty niners" headed
for California to strike it rich. By the time statehood was
won in 1850, California's population had grown to almost 100,000.
After the Civil War, the first transcontinental railroad opened.
It encouraged even more people to settle in California. Much
of California's increase in population was due to its mild climate,
abundant land, and fertile soil. During the 1880s, California
farmers began shipping fruits, nuts, and vegetables to markets
back East.
Modern California
In the twentieth century,
California emerged as one of the nation’s leading agricultural
and industrial states. Irrigation turned many desert areas
into fertile
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| Golden Gate
Bridge, San Francisco, CA |
farming land. The mining of oil, natural gas,
and other natural resources accompanied the growth of new
industries. Urban areas, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco,
expanded in size and population. Attracted by California’s
mild climate and new jobs, Americans poured into the state
from all parts of the country. Many Asians and Mexicans looking
for a better life also added to California’s population
boom. As machines gave people more leisure time, entertainment
and the arts flourished. Hollywood, a suburb of Los Angeles,
became the center of the motion-picture and television industries.
Its entertainment products were exported throughout the world.
Today, California is the nation’s
leading manufacturer of aircraft, computers, and electronic
equipment. It also produces a wide range of agricultural goods,
such as fruits, wines, and dairy products. The state’s
economy is so large that if California were an independent
country, it would be among the ten richest in the world. Nearly
one out of eight Americans now lives in California, making
it the nation’s most populous state. The state’s
population continues to grow rapidly because of the large
numbers of immigrants from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and
Europe.
Economic and Political Change
California's amazing growth and prosperity
also has created major challenges. Much of the state's growth
has taken place in the dry south. Water shortages must be
met by vast, expensive public projects that bring water from
the wetter north. Urban centers have moved outward into surrounding
farmland, removing it from food production. Urban and economic
growth also has brought crowded highways, air pollution, and
power outages.
California faces the task of providing its growing population
with water, electric power, schools, hospitals, highways,
recreational facilities, and other services. In addition,
there are the losses caused by frequent earthquakes, forest
fires, and other natural disasters. As costs mount, state
and local government governments often find it hard to pay
for badly needed public services. Budget crises have developed
as a result. In 2003 Californians expressed their frustration
by recalling their governor. In a special election, actor-turned-politician
Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced Gray Davis as the state's chief
executive. Despite the difficulties, California remains a
place of opportunity that continues to draw people.
Time Line of California History
| 1540 |
Juan Rodríquez Cabrillo explores San Diego Bay |
| 1769 |
Junípero Serra establishes the first mission in what
is now San Diego |
| 1822 |
California becomes part of Mexico |
| 1841 |
First organized group of American settlers travels to
California by land |
| 1846 |
U.S. forces conquer California during Mexican War |
| 1848 |
James W. Marshall discovers gold at Sutter's Mill, leading
to the California Gold Rush |
| 1850 |
California becomes the 31st state in the Union |
| 1869 |
The first westbound train arrives in San Francisco |
| 1906 |
Earthquake and fire destroy much of San Francisco |
| 1915 |
Expositions at San Diego and San Francisco mark the
Panama Canal's opening |
| 1932 |
Los Angeles hosts the summer Olympic Games |
| 1937 |
San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge opens to traffic |
| 1945 |
United Nations Charter is signed in San Francisco |
| 1963 |
California becomes the state with the largest population |
| 1978 |
Californians approve a $7-billion cutback in state property
taxes |
| 1984 |
Los Angeles hosts the summer Olympic Games |
| 1989 |
A strong earthquake strikes the San Francisco area |
| 1994 |
A destructive earthquake hits the Los Angeles area |
| 2000 |
California voters remove the governor in a special recall
election |
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