1. Chapters 7 and 12
Alyssa Hall
CALIFORNIA
KEVIN STARR

2. Great Expectations
 First 40 years of CA organized political and
socioeconomic structures
 Second 40 years public works infrastructure
of CA established
 2/3 of annual precipitation falls in northern
third of state
 1878 Drainage Act
 William Hammond Hall

3. Great Expectations
 Where should southern CA get water
 Gravity canal, tap Colorado river
 May 14,1901 last head gate lifted
 Homestead Act of 1862
 Desert Land Act of 1877
 Carey Land Act of 1894
 October 1904 CA development company cut
second canal
 Illegally done, disaster waiting to happen
 Colorado river poured into the valley almost
drowning southern CA

4. Great Expectations
 Technology used for Gold Rush led to technology
if irrigation
 1900 40% of population lived in Bay area or
Greater LA
 They would need more water
 Took 6+ years to construct LA aqueduct
 Monumental damage to environment
 San Francisco needed better architecture
 Great depression witnessed continuing creation
statewide infrastructure

5. Ecumenopolis
 CA has ethnic diversity
 Native American Era, spanish and Mexican
Era
 English, American, French and Russian
settlers
 Not everyone treated fairly
 Early 1900’s San Francisco had a higher
proportion of foreign- born residents

6. Ecumenopolis
 1920’s saw influx of Mexicans into fields of CA
 WWII brought thousands of Africans
 1965 immigration and Nationality Acts
 Dramatic rise in the Asian population

7. Ecumenopolis
 August 11, 1965 Watts riots
 Blacks vs. whites
 LA riots of April-may 1992
 Blacks and browns vs. whites and koreans
 Debate regarding race and ethnicity now
shifted to affirmative action
 Now focus on bilingual education

8. Sources
 Starr, Kevin. California: A History. 2007
Modern Library Paperback Edition. USA.
2005.