California History

Catalog description

This course analyzes the heritage and development of California from its beginnings with emphasis on the geography, natural resources, economic, social, ethnic, multicultural, and political forces that shaped the modern state. The Golden State's phenomenal growth and multicultural changes are emphasized. We will examine the Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and American periods. We will investigate the complex and sometimes violent process of populating, repopulating, and settling this region through immigration on the western edge of the American frontier. We will explore the cultural construction of the "California Dream" and evaluate how different groups have responded to its promises of opportunity and social renewal. The often-ignored voices of women, minority ethnic, and gender groups are an integral part of the course's narrative. Lastly, we will examine the historical origins of important issues confronting California today.