Describe the political earthquakes that have "rocked" California throughout her statehood. What have been the political consequences of those upheavals?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

1. The Gold Rush beginning in 1848, which brought the state's first massive population boom. 2. The rise of the Progressives in state government, including Governor Hiram Johnson and a majority in the legislature, who joined forces to change the rules of political representation and participation. Their biggest accomplishments: helping to destroy the Southern Pacific Railroad's political party base, and instituting direct democracy. 3. Population boom and industrialization boom following World War II, which brought unprecedented growth. (Students understandably may not recognize this as an "earthquake" as its effects were drawn out.) 4. Proposition 13 in 1978: recognition of the initiative process as a "normal route" for making major policy changes. 5. Recalling the governor (removing Gray Davis and electing Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003). Note: Term limits in 1990 might also be considered an earthquake; this is discussed in Chapter 5.
Long-lasting impacts or consequences: Weak party identification among the electorate, because parties were prevented from having controlling influence over elections, and did everything in their power to eliminate partisanship from elections (nonpartisan local elections; instituting primary elections; establishing cross-filing). Political parties could not control voters' choices, and along with cross-filing, parties did not organize or provide strong structure in the legislature until the late 1960s (legislative partisanship and polarization are strong today). Reconfigured relationships between voters and their state government by creating new forms of participation, whereby voters have the ability to bypass the legislature to make laws (through direct democracy). Lingering resentment toward politicians, and continued attempts (i.e., using the initiative process, recall, and referenda) to constrain their behavior and activity.