TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
1. Social and Economic Change in the Progressive Era
2. The Origins of California Progressivism
3. The Heyday of California Progressivism
4. California’s Age of Reform in a Global Context
5. The Tide Recedes: The Decline of Progressivism 1915-1920
November 5, 2011
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
1. Social and Economic Change in the Progressive Era
 The Growth of the Octopus
 From Wheat Bonanza to the Garden Myth
 Water Wars
Frank Norris
California Wheat
Early Wheat Flour Grinder
November 5, 2011
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
1. Social and Economic Change in the Progressive Era
 The Growth of the Octopus
 From Wheat Bonanza to the Garden Myth
November 5, 2011
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
1. Social and Economic Change in the Progressive Era
 The Growth of the Octopus
 From Wheat Bonanza to the Garden Myth
 Water Wars
 How and why did Los Angeles
grow so quickly?
 Who controlled the water? Who
lost the war over water?
 Should Los Angeles have never
been?
 How persuasive was “Cadillac
Desert” in telling this history?
 Did San Franciscans differently
manage the problem of water?
 What relationship did
Progressives assume between
culture and technology?
November 5, 2011
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
1. Social and Economic Change in the Progressive Era
 The Growth of the Octopus
 From Wheat Bonanza to the Garden Myth
 Water Wars
Water and Urban Growth: San Francisco vs. Southern California
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
Los Angeles
4,385
5,728
11,183
50,395
102,479
310,198
576,673
1,238,048
San Diego
733
2,300
2,637
16,159
17,700
35,578
74,361
147,995
San Francisco
56,802
149,473
233,959
299,467
342,782
416,912
506,676
634,394
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
2. The Origins of California Progressivism
 Barbary Coast and City of Reform: Urban Origins of California Progressivism
Los Angeles
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
2. The Origins of California Progressivism
 Barbary Coast and City of Reform: Urban Origins of California Progressivism
Los Angeles
Boosters: Harrison Gray Otis and the
L.A. Times
Open shops and worker radicalism
L.A. Times Bombing 1910
Free Harbor League
Direct Legislation League
Citywide Elections
Municipal Ownership of Utilities
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
2. The Origins of California Progressivism
 Barbary Coast and City of Reform: Urban Origins of California Progressivism
“Barbary Coast” 1897: The lure of the exotic
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
2. The Origins of California Progressivism
 Barbary Coast and City of Reform: Urban Origins of California Progressivism
San Francisco
James D. Phelan
Charter reform
Municipal Ownership
Fighting Corruption and Vice
The Union Labor Party and
the graft trial of 1905
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
2. The Origins of California Progressivism
 Barbary Coast and City of Reform: Urban Origins of California Progressivism
San Francisco
…the Earthquake of 1906
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
3. The Heyday of California Progressivism
 Direct Government
John Randolph Haynes Advocates Direct Legislation,
1911, p.199.
1. What, according to Haynes, made California’s
move towards direct democracy all the more
meaningful? In what context did Haynes place
California’s political progressive reforms?
2. Did Haynes consider the measures for direct
legislation revolutionary?
3. According to Haynes, what had experience (i.e.
history) shown was the relationship between
prosperity and democratic participation? Do you
agree? Why? Why not?
4. What relationship between
intelligence/competence and political participation
did Haynes suggest? Do you agree? Why? Why
not?
5. As a California voter and resident, do you feel
more engaged and empowered because of the
instruments of direct democracy introduced by
progressives?
Hiram Johnson, California
Governor, 1910-1917
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
3. The Heyday of California Progressivism
 Women on the March: Social Activism in California
Carrie Chapman Catt Argues That home and Government
Are Related, 1907, p.203.
1. What concept did Chapman argue against?
2. What were some of the connections that related
politics and the home?
3. What do you think was Chapman’s ultimate point?
4. Did Chapman embrace the concept of equality of men
and women?
"California women suffrage parade,"
photographic post card, 1908.
Women’s Suffrage
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
3. The Heyday of California Progressivism
 Women on the March: Social Activism in California
Katherine Philips Edson Boasts of Women’s Influence on State Legislation, 1913,
p.204.
1. Give some examples of laws that passed, according to Edson, thanks to women’s
political influence?
2. Where these laws merely focused on the domestic sphere?
3. What seemed to distinguish women from men in their conduct of politics, according
to Edson’s examples?
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
3. The Heyday of California Progressivism
 California and its Role in the Nation
November 5, 2011
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
4. Progressive California in a Global Context
California: Gateway to the Pacific Empire
Locking the Gate: Progressives and Chinese Immigration
Looking South: The Specter of Revolution
The Opening of the Panama Canal
Immigration and Commerce
Race and Americanization
November 5, 2011
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
California in the Progressive Era,
1895-1920
November 5, 2011
The Great White Fleet Visiting the Harbor of
Los Angeles in San Pedro, 1908
4. Progressive California in a Global
Context
California: Gateway to the Pacific
Empire
Locking the Gate: Progressives and
Chinese Immigration
Looking South: The Specter of
Revolution
•Mary S. Gibson Explains Why Progressive Women Should Uplift Immigrant
Women, 1914, p.206.
•What, according to Gibson, stood at the heart of the immigration question, “for the
immigrant and for the State?”
•What had been the problem in previous efforts to assimilate immigrants and lead
them to citizenship?
•What, according to Gibson, was necessary for successful Americanization?
•What do you think of the way Gibson, and those she quoted, evaluated the culture of
immigrants?
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
November 5, 2011
Picture Brides
4. Progressive California in a Global Context
Locking the Gate: Progressives and Chinese
Immigration
Paper Sons
Chester H. Rowell Analyzes the Problem of
Japanese Immigration in California, 1914.
1. How did Rowell explain the resistance of
Californians against Japanese Immigration?
W
2. What particular law might have created the
furor in Japan that he mentioned?
3. How did Rowell characterize the Japanese?
4. Why did he think the Japanese inassimilable
nonetheless?
5. What vision of world peace did Rowell have?
What do you think?
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
4. Progressive California in a Global Context
Locking the Gate: Progressives and Chinese
Immigration
November 5, 2011
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
California in the Progressive Era, 1895-1920
4. Progressive California in a Global Context
Looking South: The Specter of Revolution: “Mexicanization”
5. The Tide Recedes: The Decline of Progressivism 1915-1920
Struggle over the Porfiriato: Mexican Revolution, Civil War, and Migration
Porfirio Diaz
Volker Janssen / Allison Varzally
Pancho Villa: Hero of the Mexican
Revolutionary War
TAH Pasadena
Progressivism and California's Era of Reform
November 5, 2011
Discussion:
1. How have you taught California in the Proghressive Era in the
past?
2. What has worked? What hasn’t?
3. What are the challenges of teaching this topic?
4. New Approaches to Teaching California Progressivism: