HIST 488 California History Professor Josh Sides Spring 2011 11:00-12:15, SH102 Office Hours: Tues: 3:00-4:00/ Wed by appt / Thurs: 10:00-11:00 (633 ST) [email protected]

Note: Email is the official mode of communication for CSUN. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to regularly check your @csun.edu email address. If you do not regularly use it, be sure to have it forwarded to whatever email service you do use. Announcements made via email will supersede this document and it is the students’ responsibility to keep abreast of any changes. I am extremely responsive to emails and my turn-around time is usually very fast.

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course we will explore the major social, political, and economic developments affecting California over the last 400 years. While paying close attention to the ways in which California’s history has been unique, we will also consistently strive to place California's past into a larger national and a global context. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to speak and write intelligently about major themes, critical moments, significant individuals, and specific social, racial, and ethnic groups in the history of the state and region.

II. COURSE THEMES: -Transformation of the California environment -The origins and growth of different Californias: rural, metropolitan, suburban -The causes and consequences of perpetual growth -Racial, ethnic, and social Diversity -The California Dream and the Idea of California

III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION: This course requires extensive reading and writing. Students who fail to fulfill reading assignments will not perform well in either written work or exams. Evaluation of student performance is based on these 4 assignments. Follow links to see detailed description of assignments.

Readings-Based Paper #1, 5 pages (20%) http://www.csun.edu/~jsides/SPRING2011/paper1.pdf

Readings-Based Paper #2, 6 pages (20%) http://www.csun.edu/~jsides/SPRING2011/paper2.pdf

Readings-Based Paper #3, 7 pages (30%) http://www.csun.edu/~jsides/SPRING2011/paper3.pdf

In-Class Final Exam (30%)

IV. COURSE POLICIES:

1 - Online syllabus and emails from professor supersede the printed syllabus - Make-up exams are allowed for documented emergencies only - Turn off cell phones and pagers in class. - No late papers accepted - Arrive on time - Laptops are allowed and encouraged for note taking and reference purposes only - Audio recording requires permission of instructor - There is a zero-tolerance policy regarding plagiarism in this course. That is, ANY evidence of plagiarism will result in an automatic “F” in the course, and possible suspension from the University. Learn the university’s policy on Academic Integrity. In written work, you must properly cite all sources. If you have difficulty writing or are unclear about the rules of citation, you should make an appointment at the Learning Resource Center Writing Programs. Not knowing the rules of proper citation is not an excuse for plagiarism

V. COURSE READING:

Assigned Books (Also available at the Oviatt in Course Reserves) -Chan and Olin, Major Problems in California History -Monroy, Rebirth: Mexican Los Angeles from the Great Migration to the Great Depression -Didion, Slouching Toward Bethlehem -Steinbeck, In Dubious Battle -Davis, Ecology of Fear -Sides, L.A. City Limits

Online Reading Assignments:

-Holway, “John Muir, the Sierra Club, and the Formulation of the Wilderness Concept”: http://www.csun.edu/~jsides/SPRING2011/muir.pdf

-Verge, “King of the Surfers”: http://www.csun.edu/~jsides/SPRING2011/surfers.pdf

-Reich, “Dismantling the Pueblo”: http://www.csun.edu/~jsides/SPRING2011/Reich.pdf

-Waldinger, “Black/Immigrant”: http://www.csun.edu/~jsides/SPRING2011/Waldinger.pdf

-Vallianatos, et. al “Farm-To-School”: http://www.csun.edu/~jsides/SPRING2011/Food.pdf

VI. SCHEDULE:

Unless otherwise noted, all reading assignments should be completed by Thursday of the assigned week

2 Week 1: Approaches to California History and the Idea of California 1/25-1/27 Major Problems, Ch. 1, “The Significance of California History”

Week 2: Spanish California 2/1-2/3 Major Problems, Ch. 2-3, “The First Californians,” “The Spanish Impact”

Week 3: Mexican California 2/8-2/10

Major Problems, Ch. 4, “Mexican California”; Reich, “Dismantling the Pueblo” (online)

Week 4: American Exploration and the Gold Rush 2/15-2/17 Paper #1 Due Tuesday

Week 5: Statehood, Urban Growth, and Politics 2/22-2/24 Major Problems, Ch. 7, “Big Business and Urban Labor” Monroy, Rebirth, “Born by the River,” and “Like Swallows at the Old Mission” Holway, “John Muir, The Sierra Club…”

Week 6: Progressive-Era Reform 3/1-3/3 Major Problems, Ch. 8, “California Progressives”; Verge, “King of the Surfers” (online)

Week 7: California’s Roaring 20’s 3/8-3/10 Major Problems, Ch. 9, “Hollywood and the California Dream” w/out secondary essays Monroy, Rebirth “Our Children Get so Different Here”

Week 8: California and the Great Depression 3/15-3/17

Major Problems, Ch. 10, “Farmworker Struggles in the 1930s” Steinbeck, In Dubious Battle (entire)

Week 9: The Second Gold Rush: World War II California 3/22-3/24 L.A. City Limits (chs. 1-3)

Week 10: California in the Ambiguous 1950s 3/29-3/31 (NO CLASS THURS: CESAR CHAVEZ) L.A. City Limits (4-end)

SPRING BREAK Week 11: California in the Tumultuous 1960s

3 4/12-4/14 Major Problems, Ch. 13 Paper #2 Due Thursday

Week 12: Waking from the Dream: California in the 1970s 4/19-4/21

Slouching Toward Bethlehem (only Part I)

Week 13: The Challenges of the 1980s 4/26-4/28 (CLASS MEETS AT WHITSETT SEMINAR ON THURSDAY) Major Problems, Ch. 15 “The Environment and the Quality of Life Since 1960”; Major Problems, Ch.16 “Racial and Class Tensions”

Week 14: Modern California: Health, Neighborhoods & Beyond 5/3-5/5 Ecology of Fear (first half)

Week 15: California’s Possible Futures 5/10-5/12 Ecology of Fear (second half)

Paper # 3 Due on Tuesday FINAL EXAM: MAY 17, 2011 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM

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