Exam 1 Review Flashcards
Questions about Indigenous and Missionaries: Nature of Society?
The Chumash, Patwin, and Pomo together created an interconnected, complex, and sophisticated civilization/society. This well-balanced interconnected system slowly developed over time, however, this held room for possibilities of disruptions
Some characteristics of Native Culture?
Economy wise: The Chumash used shell beads as currency. The Pomo used clam discs and the Patwin used beads as currency. Fishing was considered to be an economic activity. The Chumash fished in a decentralized way, using canoes. Patwin fished requiring centralized constructing, with weirs, awareness of fish population and knowledge of who else was using them.
The Chumash people had incorporated more of a network like structure whereas the Patwin people were considered to be more hierarchical.
Nature of relations between Missionaries and Indigenous?
The relationships between the Missionaries and the Indigenous was hostile, and most definitely not in positive light. As Padres were persistent in their ways to convince the Native People to join their missions, many natives were convinced that in order to avoid violence they had to join. Some natives even joined to have insured food through food droughts due to environmental destructions.
Forms of Native Resistance to Colonization
Active resistance: Native people held raids on missions.
Passive resistance: refused to work hard, undermined missionary ceremonies, and/or ran away
Questions about Mexican California/ Early Statehood:
Roles of Native Peoples?
Ranchos were dependent on native labor, so, the natives were bound to ranchos through or due to debt
Structure of Mexican California society? (rancho, pueblo, presidio)
The structure for Mexican California had a hierarchical structure as the status in order from more worthy and respectable went from Rich rancho owners, everyone else, Mexicans, and at the very bottom, Native Americans.
- Ranchos: created lasting romantic image
- Presidios: Military defense establishment…eventually became pueblos since this kind of support meant civilian/military settlement
-Pueblos/Presidios: carried huge chunks of land as they passed to US control
Impact of U.S takeover on this social structure, and the Natives – impact of Mexican California on the structure of the state?
- Mexican property owners kept land as they would as citizens or as if they were citizens
- Settlers wanted to create a racial status system but there was confusion as to who would be on top of the pyramid since the population was diverse
- A result of this would be the systemic elimination of the Natives through native genocide.
Types of politics early statehood (source: white republican’s…early California)
Two political goals in mind:
- Increase population and economic activity in California
- “Secularize” missions, freeing Indians to labor in the fields of large landholders, while removing priests as local powers.
- Laissez-faire: first come first serve principle/mindset
Questions about the Gold Rush: Demographic, economic, and environmental impact?
Demographic:
- During the gold rush, California became the most diverse state as 25% of the miners were foreign born.
- Before the gold rush, California’s population was around 157,000 w/ 150,000 being natives. During the 1860’s – 470,000 and during the 1870’s – 570,000. By 1890, the native population shrunk to 25,000.
- At least 10% of the population during 1850 was Chinese. During this time, the Taiping Rebellion was occurring creating many refugees. California was an opportunity to get away from that since news of the gold rush spread quick.
- Most of the workers/miners were men in mining towns, however, there was a small amount of women present…around 3% in each mining town. Women were either wives, prostitutes, shopkeepers, assayer, hotelkeeper, and some would dress up as men to avoid harsh treatment and/or to earn wages themselves.
Economic:
- Most of the bulk of the money from the mining went back to the workers/miners. Wages went from $20 to $3. Some money went to suppliers however due to inflation and shortages, their incomes would suffer. Some money went to bankers where they would charge exchange rates for transfer of gold value. Some to U.S. treasury. General distribution to agriculture, lumber, industrial expenses.
Environmental Impact:
- Mercury exposure
Impact on natives, immigrants, economy, politics?
- Many Anglo-Americans believed that foreigners were “stealing” “their” gold. So, there comes the Foreign Miners Tax. However, it was not enforced because it was ridiculous hight, so then the tax was reduced to $4. As this was still too high for the foreigners to pay, many did not. Showed that hostility to claims of Chinese was rampant.
- The Chinese were often lynched, a Mexican woman who was a shopkeeper was lynched after killing a man who tried sexually assaulting her, and three Chileans were lynched after refusing to leave claims in Calaveras which they had legally established. A fight broke out due to their refusal, resulting in their deaths.
Impact on Nation? (Image of nation and how California becomes the central of the nation)
California took on this image that any man wanting to get rich quick, could indeed do so. There was a high overturn of people during the gold rush who wanted “a piece of it” for themselves. The flight (or desire of flight) of young men to the gold fields was a key moment in escape from family restraints; especially for farmer’s sons – abandonment of the agricultural tradition (saw California as a place of opportunity and freedom from burdens)
Questions about railroads, California agriculture and cities develop:
Larger impact of railroad on California along with transportation speed and efficiency (social impact)?
- The railroad lines determined where cities would be. Failures of the railroad reduced areas to backwaters and not until the highway system was established, we began to see the rise of some areas. America (California) shipped mainly agricultural goods to China
Structure of agriculture – role of labor force?
- Italian wine was in demand and so, many immigrants established vineyards not because of experience, but because the market and demand was growing. In addition, the Chocolate factory was established. The Italians also worked to fish, mainly for tuna.
- Armenians were involved in grape growing. Armenians did experience harassment from Anglo-American grape growers.
- The Japanese basically went to work in the fields most immediately. Opposition towards the Japanese also started most immediately as the work ethic and cultivation of fruits, flowers, and vegetables was remarkable. Anglo-Americans field workers basically couldn’t keep up with their pace and work ethic.
-Mexican workers would travel seasonally to citrus, grape, or vegetable growing areas mostly in Southern California. Some went to granite mines and then would go back home to Mexico when their jobs were finished.
Unique products/ nature of agricultural development?
- Eucalyptus
- Palm Trees
- Citrus
- Redwoods and fear of timber shortage
Rise of San Francisco and Los Angeles as cities on either end of the state – different reasons for the growth?
- San Francisco was the area most mined for gold. San Francisco fastly became a busy-life city as the population increased.
- Palm trees became a symbol of L.A. (fantasy of Arabian Nights)
