“This is the best text on California history I have ever used. The narrative is accessible and easy to understand.” — Neil Chlarson, Diablo Valley College
“The best text and value for California History.” — Ralph de Unamuno, Sierra College
“I love this text and I value the bottom up approach. Too often non-white people are left out, and I value that this text centralizes the story of many. Given its price and overall content, I think this is a wonderful option for those looking for an objective history of California.” — Scott Keys, Mt. San Jacinto College
"This engrossing text presents every facet of California history in one accessible volume. Students will find it illuminating and thought-provoking." — Benjamin Jenkins, University of La Verne
"The most comprehensive and readable California history text. Vignette chapters are most useful." — Gregory Graves, University of California, Santa Barbara
555 pages, $81.95 list
1-4786-3754-4
978-1-4786-3754-7
© 2020
paperback
Instructor's resource materials available here
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The Elusive Eden
A New History of California
Fifth Edition
California is a region of rich geographic and human diversity. The Elusive Eden charts the historical development of California, beginning with landscape and climate and the development of Native cultures, and continues through the election of Governor Gavin Newsom. It portrays a land of remarkable richness and complexity, settled by waves of people with diverse cultures from around the world.
Now in its fifth edition, this up-to-date text provides an authoritative, original, and balanced survey of California history incorporating the latest scholarship. Coverage includes new material on political upheavals, the global banking crisis, changes in education and the economy, and California's shifting demographic profile. This edition of The Elusive Eden features expanded coverage of gender, class, race, and ethnicity, giving voice to the diverse individuals and groups who have shaped California. With its continued emphasis on geography and environment, the text also gives attention to regional issues, moving from the metropolitan areas to the state's rural and desert areas.
Lively and readable, The Elusive Eden is organized in ten parts. Each chronological section begins with an in-depth narrative chapter that spotlights an individual or group at a critical moment of historical change, bringing California history to life. Click here for a detailed description of the changes to the Fifth Edition.
Now in its fifth edition, this up-to-date text provides an authoritative, original, and balanced survey of California history incorporating the latest scholarship. Coverage includes new material on political upheavals, the global banking crisis, changes in education and the economy, and California's shifting demographic profile. This edition of The Elusive Eden features expanded coverage of gender, class, race, and ethnicity, giving voice to the diverse individuals and groups who have shaped California. With its continued emphasis on geography and environment, the text also gives attention to regional issues, moving from the metropolitan areas to the state's rural and desert areas.
Lively and readable, The Elusive Eden is organized in ten parts. Each chronological section begins with an in-depth narrative chapter that spotlights an individual or group at a critical moment of historical change, bringing California history to life. Click here for a detailed description of the changes to the Fifth Edition.
Reactions
Part One: PROLOGUE
1. Californians and Their History: Myths and Realities
The New Eden / The Traditional View of California History / Reconsidering California History
2. The Natural Setting
The Dynamic Landscape / A Mosaic of Climates / Distinctive Plant Life / A Land of Many Worlds / Water, Flood, and Drought / "Mega-Drought" / Water Development / Environment and History / California Before Europeans Came
3. The Native Peoples
Native Origins, Languages, and Populations / Economy: Foods / Economy: Industry and Trade / Science, Ecology, and Agriculture / Religion / Politics and Society / The Arts / On the Eve of European Colonization
Part Two: EUROPEANS AND INDIANS: The California Experience
4. Estanislao's Rebellion
5. Explorers and Native Peoples
Discovery and Naming / Cabrillo's Voyage / Francis Drake in California / The Manila Galleon and Revived Exploration / Vizcaíno's Expedition / California Forsaken / Explorers and Indians: An Assessment
6. Spanish California
Feature Essay: Junípero Serra—Saint . . . or Sinner? / The Founding of San Francisco / The Missions / Presidios and Pueblos / Economic Development, Labor, and Society / The European Conquest of Nature / Missions and the Acculturation of Native Peoples / Early Indian Resistance: The San Diego and Colorado River Rebellions / Disease, Fugitives, and Horses / Spanish California on the Eve of Mexican Independence
Part Three: THE PASTORAL ERA
7. The Bear Flag Revolt
8. Mexican California, 1821–1848
Establishment of Mexican Government in California / Secularization of the Missions / The Gómez Farías Plan / Secularization Under Figueroa / Political Turmoil / The Hide-and-Tallow Trade / Rancho and Pueblo Society / Feature Essay: Rancho San Pedro—A Classic Spanish Land Grant
9. Foreign Penetration of California
The Russians in California / The Hide-and-Tallow Traders / The Mountain Men / Mavericks / Frontier Settlers / The Breakdown of Mexican Government / American Interest / John C. Frémont / The Prize of War / Culture in Spanish and Mexican California
Part Four: GOLD AND THE AMERICANIZATION OF CALIFORNIA
10. Dame Shirley: A Yankee Lady in the California Mines
11. The New El Dorado
The Great Discovery / Sources of La Bonanza / Feature Essay: Sam Brannan—Forty-Eighter / The Gold Rush of 1848 / Spreading the News / By Sea to California / Crossing the Plains / Searching for La Bonanza / Mechanized Mining / Life in the Mines / Bonanza to Borrasca / Californios in the Mines / The Foreign Miners' Tax Law of 1850 / "Diggers" in the Mines / Feature Essay: Free State Slavery—California's Indian Act of 1850 / Solving the "Indian Problem"
12. The Thirty-First State
The Military Interregnum / The Constitution of 1849 / Statehood / Early Political Rumbles: Broderick and Gwin / Building a State / Vigilante Justice: "Their Majesties the Mob" / The "Revolution" of 1856 / A Cosmopolitan Society / Anti-Chinese Prejudice / African American Argonauts / Californios and the Land Grant Question / Pioneer Agriculture / Land Speculation on the Urban Frontier / Cultural Americanization
Part Five: THE RAILROAD ERA
13. Confrontation at Mussel Slough, 1880
14. The Coming of the Railroad
Transportation Problems in Gold Rush California / Early Transcontinental Railroad Schemes / Pioneer Rail Lines / Theodore Judah, Visionary / The Founding of the Central Pacific Railroad / The Civil War and the Transcontinental Railway / The Central Pacific Besieged / The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 / Local Subsidies and Mounting Opposition to the Central Pacific / Breaking Ground / Judah versus the Associates / Feature Essay: The Big Four—Villains or Heroes? / The Pacific Railway Act of 1864 / Completing the Transcontinental Railway / The Associates and the Emerging Rail System / The Southern Pacific Company
15. California's Railway Era: Economic Development and Social Unrest
"The Terrible Seventies" / Urban Growth / San Francisco: From Instant City to Pacific Metropolis / Industrialization / Railroads and the Bonanza Wheat Era / Fruit and Specialty-Crop Framing / Feature Essay: The University of California and the Beginning of Higher Education / Water Resources / The Assault on Nature and the Beginning of Environmental Concern / Feature Essay: John Muir and Early Wilderness Preservation / Social and Political Conflict / Rural Inequities / Early Labor Movements and the "Indispensable Enemy" / The Workingmen's Party of California / Anti-Railroad Politics / The Constitution of 1879 / Chinese Exclusion / Culture in the Railroad Era
Part Six: CALIFORNIA AND THE NATION, 1880–1920
Feature Essay: Eadweard Muybridge—Photographer of the City
16. "This Was Our Place": Asian Immigrants and Delta Agriculture
17. Beginnings of Modern California
Southern California / Population: The "One Great Desideratum" / The "Boom of the '80s" / The First Oil Boom / Black Gold / Fighting Against Monopoly / Political Change in the 1890s / The Free Harbor Fight and the Funding Bill / Agrarian Revolt / Populism in California / The Urban Scene: Prelude to Progressivism / Pre-Progressive Women
18. Progressive California
Abraham Ruef and the Union Labor Party / Indictment and Trial / The Lincoln-Roosevelt League / Hiram Johnson and the Election of 1910 / Economic Regulation / Political Reform / The Sixth Star: California Women Gain the Vote / Feature Essay: California's "First Four"—Anna Saylor, Elizabeth Hughes, Grace Dorris, and Esto Broughton / Labor in Progressive California / Feature Essay: Jack London—Sometime Socialist / Fears of Radicalism / The Criminal Syndication Act, 1919 / Race in Progressive California / Water for Cities: Hetch Hetchy and Owens Valley / The End of an Era / Turn-of-the-Century California Culture
Part Seven: CALIFORNIA BETWEEN THE WARS, 1920–1940
19. Super Sister: Aimee Semple McPherson in Los Angeles
20. Prosperity and the Rise of Southern California
Water and Power for Growth / California and the Automobile / Feature Essay: Henry E. Huntington and the "Big Red Cars" / Feature Essay: How Do You Say M-O-T-E-L? A California Original / Oil / The Movies / Agribusiness / Farm Labor / Other Industries / The Decline of Organized Labor / Urban Rivalry and the Military / A Changing Society / Feature Essay: Robinson Jeffers—Poet of the Coast / Religion / Prohibition / One-Party Government
21. The Depression Decade
Impacts of the Depression / The New Deal in California / Feature Essay: Dorothea Lange and Florence Thompson—The Photographer and the Migrant Mother / Large-Scale Public Works / The Central Valley Project / The Revival of Labor / The Open Shop in Los Angeles / Agricultural Labor / Feature Essay: John Steinbeck—Bard of the Long Valley / Depression Politics / Merriam's "Pragmatic Conservatism" / Utopian Schemes and the Pension Movement / Olson's "New Deal for California" / The "Okies" / The Cultural Scene Between the Wars
Part Eight: WORLD WAR II AND POSTWAR EXPANSION
22. A Question of Loyalty
23. World War II: The Beginning of an Era
California in World War II / The Impact of Pearl Harbor / The Rise of the Aircraft Industry / Shipbuilding / Other War Industries and Agriculture / Science / Women in the War / Incarceration of Japanese Americans / Wartime Community Dynamics / Preparing for Peace / The Warren Administration
24. Amazing Growth: California after World War II
The Great Migration / Postwar Economic Growth / The Defense and Aerospace Industries / The Housing Boom / Transportation / Education / Recreation / The New Hollywood / Postwar Politics and the Anticommunist Crusade / Feature Essay: Walt Disney—Last of the Movie "Moguls" / Goodwin Knight Moves Left / California Culture in Transition / Feature Essay: Jack Kerouac—King of the Beats
Part Nine: THE 1960S AND AFTER
25. Prologues to Violence: Genesis of a Ghetto
26. Dreams Deferred: The Long 1960s
The First Governor Brown / The California Water Plan / Civil Rights / Reforms in Politics and Government / Schools and Society / The Election of 1962 / The Politics of Confrontation / Feature Essay: Walkout! / Feature Essay: César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and "La Causa": The Union as Social Movement / More Students in Revolt / The 1960s in Retrospect
27. Eras of Limits: Reagan, Brown, and Deukmejian
The Rise of Ronald Reagan / The First Reagan Term / The Election of 1970 / The Second Reagan Administration / The Second Governor Brown / The Election of 1974 / New Blood / Farm Labor / "Small Is Beautiful" / The Era of Possibilities / The Tax Revolt of 1978 / Energy Crisis and Response / After Thirteen / Another "Boom of the '80s" / A Technology Revolution / The Arts / Feature Essay: Jefe Rojas—The Vaqueros' Homer / Cultural Diversity
Part Ten: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY: Crisis in the Most Populous State
28. California: Eden or Wasteland?—The "Not So Golden" State
Twentieth-Century Conservation / From Conservation to Environmentalism: The 1960s / Building a Regulatory Framework / Protecting Air Quality / Water Pollution / "Save the Bay" / The Delta and the Peripheral Canal / The Limits of Regional Planning: The Coast and Lake Tahoe / Feature Essay: Ansel Adams—Californian / Parks and Wilderness Areas / Farmland Preservation / Mono Lake and the Public-Trust Doctrine / The Wicked Ditch, Redux / Reaction Against Environmental Reform / "There Is No Plan B": California and World Climate Change / The Legacy of Environmental Reform
29. Fin de Siècle California
Demographic Shifts / Recession in the 1990s / Base Closures / Transportation / Recession-Era Politics / The Election of 1994 / Indian Gaming / Another Energy Crisis / The New Economy / Change and Resistance / Education / Awakening "the Sleeping Giant" / The Republican "Wipeout" and the 1998 Governor's Race
30. California in the New Millennium
Demographic Shifts / New Century, Old Politics / High-Tech Boom / The Price of Energy Deregulation / Recalling a Governor / The Housing "Bubble" and Great Recession / Transportation / The Legacy of Progressivism / Education / Jerry Brown, Again / Is the Great Recession Over? / Homelessness / The 2016 Elections / California in the Age of Trump
Suggested Readings
1. Californians and Their History: Myths and Realities
The New Eden / The Traditional View of California History / Reconsidering California History
2. The Natural Setting
The Dynamic Landscape / A Mosaic of Climates / Distinctive Plant Life / A Land of Many Worlds / Water, Flood, and Drought / "Mega-Drought" / Water Development / Environment and History / California Before Europeans Came
3. The Native Peoples
Native Origins, Languages, and Populations / Economy: Foods / Economy: Industry and Trade / Science, Ecology, and Agriculture / Religion / Politics and Society / The Arts / On the Eve of European Colonization
Part Two: EUROPEANS AND INDIANS: The California Experience
4. Estanislao's Rebellion
5. Explorers and Native Peoples
Discovery and Naming / Cabrillo's Voyage / Francis Drake in California / The Manila Galleon and Revived Exploration / Vizcaíno's Expedition / California Forsaken / Explorers and Indians: An Assessment
6. Spanish California
Feature Essay: Junípero Serra—Saint . . . or Sinner? / The Founding of San Francisco / The Missions / Presidios and Pueblos / Economic Development, Labor, and Society / The European Conquest of Nature / Missions and the Acculturation of Native Peoples / Early Indian Resistance: The San Diego and Colorado River Rebellions / Disease, Fugitives, and Horses / Spanish California on the Eve of Mexican Independence
Part Three: THE PASTORAL ERA
7. The Bear Flag Revolt
8. Mexican California, 1821–1848
Establishment of Mexican Government in California / Secularization of the Missions / The Gómez Farías Plan / Secularization Under Figueroa / Political Turmoil / The Hide-and-Tallow Trade / Rancho and Pueblo Society / Feature Essay: Rancho San Pedro—A Classic Spanish Land Grant
9. Foreign Penetration of California
The Russians in California / The Hide-and-Tallow Traders / The Mountain Men / Mavericks / Frontier Settlers / The Breakdown of Mexican Government / American Interest / John C. Frémont / The Prize of War / Culture in Spanish and Mexican California
Part Four: GOLD AND THE AMERICANIZATION OF CALIFORNIA
10. Dame Shirley: A Yankee Lady in the California Mines
11. The New El Dorado
The Great Discovery / Sources of La Bonanza / Feature Essay: Sam Brannan—Forty-Eighter / The Gold Rush of 1848 / Spreading the News / By Sea to California / Crossing the Plains / Searching for La Bonanza / Mechanized Mining / Life in the Mines / Bonanza to Borrasca / Californios in the Mines / The Foreign Miners' Tax Law of 1850 / "Diggers" in the Mines / Feature Essay: Free State Slavery—California's Indian Act of 1850 / Solving the "Indian Problem"
12. The Thirty-First State
The Military Interregnum / The Constitution of 1849 / Statehood / Early Political Rumbles: Broderick and Gwin / Building a State / Vigilante Justice: "Their Majesties the Mob" / The "Revolution" of 1856 / A Cosmopolitan Society / Anti-Chinese Prejudice / African American Argonauts / Californios and the Land Grant Question / Pioneer Agriculture / Land Speculation on the Urban Frontier / Cultural Americanization
Part Five: THE RAILROAD ERA
13. Confrontation at Mussel Slough, 1880
14. The Coming of the Railroad
Transportation Problems in Gold Rush California / Early Transcontinental Railroad Schemes / Pioneer Rail Lines / Theodore Judah, Visionary / The Founding of the Central Pacific Railroad / The Civil War and the Transcontinental Railway / The Central Pacific Besieged / The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 / Local Subsidies and Mounting Opposition to the Central Pacific / Breaking Ground / Judah versus the Associates / Feature Essay: The Big Four—Villains or Heroes? / The Pacific Railway Act of 1864 / Completing the Transcontinental Railway / The Associates and the Emerging Rail System / The Southern Pacific Company
15. California's Railway Era: Economic Development and Social Unrest
"The Terrible Seventies" / Urban Growth / San Francisco: From Instant City to Pacific Metropolis / Industrialization / Railroads and the Bonanza Wheat Era / Fruit and Specialty-Crop Framing / Feature Essay: The University of California and the Beginning of Higher Education / Water Resources / The Assault on Nature and the Beginning of Environmental Concern / Feature Essay: John Muir and Early Wilderness Preservation / Social and Political Conflict / Rural Inequities / Early Labor Movements and the "Indispensable Enemy" / The Workingmen's Party of California / Anti-Railroad Politics / The Constitution of 1879 / Chinese Exclusion / Culture in the Railroad Era
Part Six: CALIFORNIA AND THE NATION, 1880–1920
Feature Essay: Eadweard Muybridge—Photographer of the City
16. "This Was Our Place": Asian Immigrants and Delta Agriculture
17. Beginnings of Modern California
Southern California / Population: The "One Great Desideratum" / The "Boom of the '80s" / The First Oil Boom / Black Gold / Fighting Against Monopoly / Political Change in the 1890s / The Free Harbor Fight and the Funding Bill / Agrarian Revolt / Populism in California / The Urban Scene: Prelude to Progressivism / Pre-Progressive Women
18. Progressive California
Abraham Ruef and the Union Labor Party / Indictment and Trial / The Lincoln-Roosevelt League / Hiram Johnson and the Election of 1910 / Economic Regulation / Political Reform / The Sixth Star: California Women Gain the Vote / Feature Essay: California's "First Four"—Anna Saylor, Elizabeth Hughes, Grace Dorris, and Esto Broughton / Labor in Progressive California / Feature Essay: Jack London—Sometime Socialist / Fears of Radicalism / The Criminal Syndication Act, 1919 / Race in Progressive California / Water for Cities: Hetch Hetchy and Owens Valley / The End of an Era / Turn-of-the-Century California Culture
Part Seven: CALIFORNIA BETWEEN THE WARS, 1920–1940
19. Super Sister: Aimee Semple McPherson in Los Angeles
20. Prosperity and the Rise of Southern California
Water and Power for Growth / California and the Automobile / Feature Essay: Henry E. Huntington and the "Big Red Cars" / Feature Essay: How Do You Say M-O-T-E-L? A California Original / Oil / The Movies / Agribusiness / Farm Labor / Other Industries / The Decline of Organized Labor / Urban Rivalry and the Military / A Changing Society / Feature Essay: Robinson Jeffers—Poet of the Coast / Religion / Prohibition / One-Party Government
21. The Depression Decade
Impacts of the Depression / The New Deal in California / Feature Essay: Dorothea Lange and Florence Thompson—The Photographer and the Migrant Mother / Large-Scale Public Works / The Central Valley Project / The Revival of Labor / The Open Shop in Los Angeles / Agricultural Labor / Feature Essay: John Steinbeck—Bard of the Long Valley / Depression Politics / Merriam's "Pragmatic Conservatism" / Utopian Schemes and the Pension Movement / Olson's "New Deal for California" / The "Okies" / The Cultural Scene Between the Wars
Part Eight: WORLD WAR II AND POSTWAR EXPANSION
22. A Question of Loyalty
23. World War II: The Beginning of an Era
California in World War II / The Impact of Pearl Harbor / The Rise of the Aircraft Industry / Shipbuilding / Other War Industries and Agriculture / Science / Women in the War / Incarceration of Japanese Americans / Wartime Community Dynamics / Preparing for Peace / The Warren Administration
24. Amazing Growth: California after World War II
The Great Migration / Postwar Economic Growth / The Defense and Aerospace Industries / The Housing Boom / Transportation / Education / Recreation / The New Hollywood / Postwar Politics and the Anticommunist Crusade / Feature Essay: Walt Disney—Last of the Movie "Moguls" / Goodwin Knight Moves Left / California Culture in Transition / Feature Essay: Jack Kerouac—King of the Beats
Part Nine: THE 1960S AND AFTER
25. Prologues to Violence: Genesis of a Ghetto
26. Dreams Deferred: The Long 1960s
The First Governor Brown / The California Water Plan / Civil Rights / Reforms in Politics and Government / Schools and Society / The Election of 1962 / The Politics of Confrontation / Feature Essay: Walkout! / Feature Essay: César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and "La Causa": The Union as Social Movement / More Students in Revolt / The 1960s in Retrospect
27. Eras of Limits: Reagan, Brown, and Deukmejian
The Rise of Ronald Reagan / The First Reagan Term / The Election of 1970 / The Second Reagan Administration / The Second Governor Brown / The Election of 1974 / New Blood / Farm Labor / "Small Is Beautiful" / The Era of Possibilities / The Tax Revolt of 1978 / Energy Crisis and Response / After Thirteen / Another "Boom of the '80s" / A Technology Revolution / The Arts / Feature Essay: Jefe Rojas—The Vaqueros' Homer / Cultural Diversity
Part Ten: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY: Crisis in the Most Populous State
28. California: Eden or Wasteland?—The "Not So Golden" State
Twentieth-Century Conservation / From Conservation to Environmentalism: The 1960s / Building a Regulatory Framework / Protecting Air Quality / Water Pollution / "Save the Bay" / The Delta and the Peripheral Canal / The Limits of Regional Planning: The Coast and Lake Tahoe / Feature Essay: Ansel Adams—Californian / Parks and Wilderness Areas / Farmland Preservation / Mono Lake and the Public-Trust Doctrine / The Wicked Ditch, Redux / Reaction Against Environmental Reform / "There Is No Plan B": California and World Climate Change / The Legacy of Environmental Reform
29. Fin de Siècle California
Demographic Shifts / Recession in the 1990s / Base Closures / Transportation / Recession-Era Politics / The Election of 1994 / Indian Gaming / Another Energy Crisis / The New Economy / Change and Resistance / Education / Awakening "the Sleeping Giant" / The Republican "Wipeout" and the 1998 Governor's Race
30. California in the New Millennium
Demographic Shifts / New Century, Old Politics / High-Tech Boom / The Price of Energy Deregulation / Recalling a Governor / The Housing "Bubble" and Great Recession / Transportation / The Legacy of Progressivism / Education / Jerry Brown, Again / Is the Great Recession Over? / Homelessness / The 2016 Elections / California in the Age of Trump
Suggested Readings