California

Introduction - geography and history; the original Californians; discovery, exploration and founding; outposts of a dying empire; a marginal province of a troubled republic; American infiltration - traders, trappers and settlers; the American conquest; the Gold rush; a new state and frontier politics; crime and punishment; racial oppression and economic conflict; culture and anarchy; a frontier economy; building the central Pacific railroad; the "terrible seventies"; political turmoil and a new constitution - economic growth; culture and oligarchy; politics in the era of railroad domination; labour and capital; the roots of reform; the Republican progressives in power; the triumph of conservatism; new industries for southern California; controversies over land and water; the Great Depression; cultural trends; wartime growth and problems; politics California style; industrialized agriculture and disorganized labour; diversity and conflict; a season of discontent; contemporary California culture; recent California politics; the environment and energy; an advanced industrial economy; the new California society.