HISTORY 142A Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Bracero Program, Watts Riots, Transcontinental Railroad
Document Summary
Franciscans in alta california while jesuits did baja california (but jesuits didn"t do a good job so spain didn"t let them try again: 1821: mexican republic declared/spanish empire on the downfall/alta. California becomes part of mexico and not much changes but things still change: 1848: discovery of gold/gold rush/treaty of guadalupe hidalgo. Treaty of guadalupe hidalgo: ends us-mexican war: 1850: california statehood. No new state had ever been added to the us so quickly. Booming population (needed 60,000 people to be a state and. Wealth: 1861: pony express (missouri to california) Represents need for those on the west coast to communicate with those in the middle of the country: 1869: transcontinental railroad. Mostly chinese immigrants who worked on it from sacramento to utah. Cheaper labor so there was negative sentiment. Lots of chinese coming in seeking opportunity: 1875: there"s a depression.
