H488 California History
Spring 2012 Welcome!
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What is the (S)tate of California? Are we extraordinarily innovative, or especially imitative? Are we truly unique, or a mere reflection of the nation as a whole? Part of the West, or an extension of the East? What part of our State's identity is myth, and what part reality? We will chase down ideas about our "elusive Eden" by following shifting land and resource use, various cultural influences, and governing polities from the time of indigenous populations to the present. How have environmental, economic, social, and political forces molded California, and which of these do you consider most significant?
This is a survey class of California’s history and geography, with the purpose of gaining a basic understanding of California’s spatial patterns in historical context. The two are a natural blend as historians often begin with geography, and geographers study connections between environment and people. Scholars in both fields consider environmental, economic, social, political, cultural history, and geographic contexts, though with different emphasis. Staple reading in this class will be the Document and Essay Reader edited by Sucheng Chan and Spencer Olin. Additional books provide a more in depth view and feel for the texture of California’s past in primary sources and secondary critical essays, beginning with Life in a Mission and the observations of enlightenment explorer La Perouse. Next, Douglas Monroy's Thrown Among Strangers is an account of the making of Mexican culture in California. Baumgardner's book Killing for Land in Early California tells an important story about the consequences of the Gold Rush, and finally, The Seven States of California is a geographical narrative of our state.
The past is all around us, and it is also my hope that you will be able to observe present traces of California's history. I encourage you, as you are able, to take hikes, visit local museums, and talk to people around you. Share with us your discoveries, along with any interesting books or film/ video forms you may find. Any hike at a local, state, or national park will provide a glimpse into Indian California, and a trip to Pasadena will give you the feel for turn-of-the century California (they even have mounted police). For twentieth century California you might visit Angeles Temple or the Japanese American Museum, only two examples of many from a state in which tourism is a major industry. (And all of these are local examples)