California went through a protracted political, social, and economic chaos, turmoil, and disorganization to emerge as a state. California’s long journey to redefinition commenced when the Spanish monarchy handed over the territory to Mexico, which adopted a different administration style. Unlike their predecessors, the Mexicans allowed foreigners to occupy the region, with the governors dishing out land grants to any foreigner who converted to Catholicism and naturalized. Throughout the Mexican occupation, much of the land in California was in possession of the ranchos, which practiced extensive cattle rearing on what seemingly was an unproductive and desolate land (Rolle et al.). As Mexico ceded California to the United States in 1946, land ownership relations changed dramatically. As the gold rush prompted Americans into pouring in to what was initially a Mexican territory, the initial occupants of the land were increasingly under the threat of encroachment. Under these circumstances, it was unclear who truly possessed the land as factions clashed and violently engaged one another concerning land ownership (Starr 133). According to Starr, an attempt to evict the squatters in Sacramento left the Sherriff, several deputies, and scores of squatters dead” (133). Observably, such violent encounters would not be much helpful for thousands of Americans who sought to occupy California. In this light, an initiative created by the U.S government was set to ostensibly assess the validity of the land claims laid by the grantees (Starr 133). Regardless, the validation process took an extended period, and eventually, most grantees lost their lands as they used the same to pay lawyers who fought for them in the courts. Subtly, the government had gradually gained occupation, to the detriment of the grantees. For southern Californians, such precedence significantly threatened their survival in the newly formed state. In response, massive efforts were put into secluding south California, with politicians like Henry Foote fronting the agenda in Congress. Throughout the 1850s, bills backing the division were introduced, ending with a referendum in 1959 (Starr 135). As Starr noted “ Historians viewed the move to divide the state as an extension of slavery to the Pacific coast” (136). However, California was already split into various societies, like the urban bay area, the northern region, the central valleys, and Southern California. Typically, these areas had considerably different compositions of natives and immigrants due to their other political economies. Although the breakout of the civil war hindered the possibility of subdividing the state, the idea has seemingly remained persistent even in the modern times.
As the tussle between the Mexican land grantees and the incoming American population simmered down, more complex issues were being witnessed across the state. In San Fransisco, a religion-motivated vigilante group known as the San Francisco Vigilante Committee had grown intolerant of the profound influence of the Irish Catholics in the town. In retaliation, the group hatched a plan to eradicate Catholicism by assassinating notable Irish politicians like James King of William. Led by William Coleman in what seemed as total disregard of state power, the vigilante group seized San Fransisco and carried on with the execution of two Irish men on May 1856. In the following three months, the vigilante group committed countless atrocities while Governor Johnson watched helplessly (Starr 137). On the 18th, August 1856, the San Francisco Vigilante committee hanged scores of perceived enemies and finally disbanded itself without any intervention from the state. Undeniably, such defiance had never been witnessed in American history. As most people viewed it, the San Francisco event was yet another breaking point for California.
Regardless of the strife encountered in its establishment, California remained resilient and determined to emerge as a functional state. Its institutional development commenced with the movement of the capital between San Francisco, San Jose, Vallejo, Benicia, and Sacramento. Finally, the state’s capital was located in Sacramento, with the state library constructed in 1855. The library construction and the completion of the humongous capitol building earned California a new outlook and a profound sense of self. In addition to these crucial developments, various missionary societies established higher education institutions like the College of California and Mills College. Later, some of these institutions developed into universities, hence increasing intellectual development across the state (Starr 138).
Since Christian missionaries were to a large extent the core creators of the new environment in California, religion was a core feature of the state. In this sense, the region experienced a religious arms race as churched and synagogues mushroomed across the state. In these newly found societies, the clergy wielded considerable power over their followers, providing ideals that governed the communities. Regardless of the religious convictions, California lacked a comprehensive penitentiary system for punishing lawbreakers. In addition to the Waban (a ship converted into a prison), the construction of a more extensive facility (the San Quentin prison) began in 1852. By 1855, the facility had almost completed and fully functional. Initially, the prison was mismanaged mainly by the James Estell’s administration, which violated prisoners’ rights whereas granting special privileges to particular prisoners. In this state of affairs, the state took control of the facility in 1855 (Starr 139).
Although the gold rush was the primary reason for the massive immigrant influx into California, agriculture was just as popular as economic activity. In areas like San Francisco and San Jose, there was extensive fruit and vegetable farming. Additionally, dairy farming was practiced across Los Angeles and Napa. Other zealous farmers like Agoston Haraszthy spearheaded wine production by establishing a winery and conducted comprehensive research that enhanced viticulture in California (Starr 141). Despite rapid urbanization, and multicultural population, California eventually emerged as the most agriculture-productive state in the United States. Regardless of the benefits brought about by the agricultural developments, some Mexicans like Joaquin Murrieta violently resisted the changes (Starr 142). Unfortunately, such revolts were crushed immediately by the state; it is crucial to note that other Mexicans adjusted successfully to the new system, with some like Pablo la Guerra and Romualdo Pacheco occupying state positions.
The expansion of railway transport in the United States prompted the need to construct a railroad to link California with the rest of the country. In 1853, Congress instructed Jefferson Davis to assess the best routes for construction. In this period, Eng. Theodore Judah, with the help of Mark Hopkins, Charles Crocker, Collins Huntington, and Leland Stanford, took over the initiative and built the Southern Pacific railroad. Since the main challenge was funding, the group later gained government subsidies, although Judah later fell out with the others. Later, Charles Crocker proceeded to build the Central Pacific railroad (Devrell &Igler). This time, he faced extreme weather and a labour shortage as most workers left for the gold mines. As an alternative, Crocker employed a massive workforce of Chinese immigrants who worked in extreme conditions, pulling through the Sierra Nevada and the mountains to join the Union Pacific in Utah in 1869. This population later gained a lot of backlash from the White’s who claimed that the Chinese had taken over all the employment opportunities in the industries (Starr 150).
Contrary to most people’s anticipations, the post-railroad times in California were unfavourable. As the state became part of the national and international economy, the most popular financial institutions collapsed due to corruption and embezzlement. For instance, Chapman Ralston fleeced the bank of California by taking money directly without the knowledge of the other shareholders (Starr 154). During this time, hundreds of workers participated in bloody strikes, which polarized society. Much worse, Chinese workers (who formerly worked on the railroads) faced massive discrimination and violence in society. Other factions like the pick-axe movement and state troops clashed with the radicalized national Workingmen’s party leaders like Kearney. Although the encounters were destructive and threatened social stability, they created an environment in which capitalism thrived in the Californian society through the railroad, mining, and agriculture.
As Josiah Royce noted, the Californian experience is only understood by isolating the state from the rest of the nation (Starr 163). In his concept of “Provincialism,” Josiah asserted that Americans could only discover their true identity in local contexts as each state had its unique culture, history, art and literature. Alternatively, California’s eventful journey could as well be a mirror useful for observing the lager American society. In this sense, literary works would play a crucial role in understanding how California and the United States were formed as a result of both violent and peaceable relations. Such works describing the Goldrush include Seeking the Golden Fleece (1856) and Three Years in California by Douglas Bordthick.
Works Cited
Deverell, William, and David Igler, Eds. A companion to California history. John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Rolle, Andrew, and Arthur C. Verge. California: a history. John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Starr, Kevin. California: A History. New York: Modern Library, 2005, pp 131-166.
