🐻California History Unit 11 – Great Depression & New Deal in California

Economic Collapse in California

• California's economy heavily relied on agriculture, tourism, and the film industry which were all severely impacted by the Great Depression
• Agricultural prices plummeted due to overproduction and reduced demand leading to widespread farm foreclosures and rural poverty (Central Valley)
• Tourism and the entertainment industry suffered as people had less disposable income to spend on leisure activities
  • Hollywood studios cut back on production and laid off workers
  • Luxury hotels and resorts saw a sharp decline in visitors (Del Monte Hotel in Monterey)
• Unemployment soared as businesses closed and industries contracted leaving many Californians without work or income
• Banks failed across the state as people withdrew their savings and defaulted on loans creating a crisis of confidence in the financial system (Bank of America)
• Construction and real estate development came to a standstill as financing dried up and property values plunged
• International trade through California's ports decreased significantly due to global economic downturn and protectionist policies

Social Impact on Californians

• Widespread unemployment and poverty led to a sharp increase in homelessness and the growth of shantytowns known as "Hoovervilles" (Pipe City in Oakland)
• Families struggled to make ends meet often relying on charity, government aid, or taking on odd jobs to survive
• Malnutrition and poor health became more common as people couldn't afford proper food or medical care
  • Schools reported higher rates of undernourished children
  • Diseases like tuberculosis and rickets spread in overcrowded living conditions
• Evictions and foreclosures forced many families to move in with relatives or migrate in search of work and better opportunities
• Dust Bowl migrants from the Great Plains flooded into California putting additional strain on limited resources and creating social tensions (Okies)
• Discrimination and xenophobia increased as competition for jobs intensified and outsiders were blamed for economic woes
• Social unrest and labor strikes erupted as workers protested wage cuts, layoffs, and poor working conditions (1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike)

Political Response and State Initiatives

• Governor James Rolph Jr. initially resisted direct state intervention believing the depression would be short-lived and private charity could address the needs
• As the crisis deepened, California implemented various relief programs and public works projects to provide aid and create jobs
  • State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) provided direct assistance to the unemployed and destitute
  • State Relief Administration (SRA) coordinated local relief efforts and distributed federal funds
• California created the State Labor Camp Program to house and support migrant farm workers and their families (Arvin Federal Camp)
• The state raised taxes and issued bonds to fund relief efforts and maintain essential services despite declining revenues
• Governor Frank Merriam, who succeeded Rolph, worked closely with the federal government to secure New Deal funding and implement programs in California
• California legislators passed laws to protect homeowners from foreclosure, regulate banks, and establish a state unemployment insurance system
• The state government supported labor unions and collective bargaining rights to improve working conditions and wages (1938 Culbert Olson election)

Federal New Deal Programs in California

• President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal provided a lifeline to California through various relief, recovery, and reform programs
• The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employed young men in conservation projects like planting trees, building trails, and constructing parks (Redwood National Park)
  • California had one of the largest CCC enrollments in the country
• The Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded a wide range of public works projects and cultural programs in California
  • Construction of roads, bridges, schools, and other infrastructure (Golden Gate Bridge)
  • Support for artists, writers, and musicians through the Federal Art Project and Federal Writers' Project
• The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) provided subsidies to farmers to reduce crop production and stabilize prices benefiting California's agricultural sector
• The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) established codes of fair competition and encouraged unionization in industries like manufacturing and film production
• The Social Security Act provided a safety net for the elderly, unemployed, and disabled Californians
• The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) brought electricity to remote rural areas of California improving quality of life and economic opportunities

California's Unique Challenges

• California faced distinct challenges during the Great Depression due to its rapid population growth, diverse economy, and geographic size
• The influx of Dust Bowl migrants strained California's already overburdened relief system and created tensions with local residents
  • Migrants faced discrimination, exploitation, and poor living conditions in migrant camps (Weedpatch Camp)
  • Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath" depicted the plight of migrant families in California
• California's agricultural industry, while vital to the state's economy, was plagued by overproduction, falling prices, and labor unrest
  • Large-scale industrial agriculture and mechanization displaced many small farmers and farmworkers
  • Battles between growers and unions led to strikes and violence (1933 San Joaquin cotton strike)
• The film industry, centered in Hollywood, faced censorship, moral backlash, and competition from radio during the 1930s
  • The Hays Code imposed strict moral guidelines on film content limiting artistic expression
  • Many studios struggled financially and consolidated to survive the economic downturn
• California's oil industry, while providing some economic stability, also faced challenges of overproduction and declining prices
  • The East Texas oil boom flooded the market and put pressure on California producers
• California's geography, with its diverse regions and climates, made coordinating relief efforts and infrastructure projects more complex and expensive

Cultural Shifts and Artistic Responses

• The Great Depression profoundly influenced California's cultural landscape as artists, writers, and musicians grappled with the social and economic upheaval
• The rise of social realism in art and literature depicted the struggles of everyday people and critiqued societal inequalities
  • Dorothea Lange's photographs documented the hardships of migrant workers and the rural poor (Migrant Mother)
  • John Steinbeck's novels "In Dubious Battle" and "The Grapes of Wrath" portrayed the plight of farmworkers and Dust Bowl migrants in California
• The Federal Art Project and Federal Writers' Project supported California artists and writers creating public murals, guidebooks, and oral histories
  • Coit Tower murals in San Francisco depicted scenes of California life and labor
  • The California Guide Book provided a comprehensive overview of the state's history, geography, and culture
• Hollywood films began to reflect social issues and the economic hardships of the Depression era
  • Movies like "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" and "Wild Boys of the Road" dealt with poverty, crime, and social injustice
  • Screwball comedies and musicals offered escapist entertainment and optimism in troubled times (It Happened One Night, 42nd Street)
• California's music scene saw the growth of swing jazz, blues, and country music reflecting the cultural diversity of the state
  • Duke Ellington and Count Basie performed at Los Angeles' Club Alabam
  • Woody Guthrie's Dust Bowl Ballads captured the experiences of migrant workers in California
• The popularity of radio entertainment grew as people sought low-cost diversion and information during the Depression
  • Programs like "One Man's Family" and "The Whistler" were produced in California and broadcast nationwide

Long-term Effects on California's Development

• The Great Depression and New Deal era had lasting impacts on California's economic, political, and social development
• The expansion of government's role in social welfare and economic regulation, initiated during the Depression, continued to shape California's policies in subsequent decades
  • The state's progressive tradition and embrace of New Deal liberalism influenced its political culture
  • California's welfare system, labor laws, and public infrastructure owed much to the reforms of the 1930s
• The development of California's water resources and agricultural industry was greatly advanced by New Deal projects like the Central Valley Project
  • These investments in irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power supported California's postwar growth and urbanization
• The influx of Dust Bowl migrants and the experiences of the Depression fostered a sense of social consciousness and activism in California
  • Steinbeck's works and Lange's photographs raised awareness of poverty and injustice
  • Labor unions and civil rights organizations gained strength and influence in the postwar period
• The growth of California's defense and aerospace industries during World War II, built on the foundation of New Deal programs and infrastructure
  • Wartime spending and mobilization pulled California out of the Depression and set the stage for its emergence as an economic powerhouse
• The cultural legacy of the 1930s, from the murals of Coit Tower to the music of Woody Guthrie, continued to inspire and influence California's artistic community
  • The social realist tradition in art and literature persisted alongside the rise of new cultural movements in the postwar era
• California's experience of the Great Depression and New Deal shaped its identity as a land of opportunity, innovation, and resilience
  • The state's ability to weather the crisis and emerge stronger reinforced its image as a trendsetter and leader in American society

Key Figures and Events

• James Rolph Jr. - Governor of California (1931-1934) during the early years of the Great Depression; initially resisted direct state intervention in the economy
• Frank Merriam - Governor of California (1934-1939) who succeeded Rolph; worked closely with the federal government to implement New Deal programs in the state
• Upton Sinclair - Writer and activist who ran for governor in 1934 on the EPIC (End Poverty in California) platform; his campaign galvanized support for progressive reforms
• Florence Owens Thompson - The subject of Dorothea Lange's iconic "Migrant Mother" photograph; came to symbolize the human toll of the Depression in rural California
• Tom Collins - Manager of the Arvin Federal Camp for migrant workers; his reports on camp conditions informed Steinbeck's portrayal of Weedpatch Camp in "The Grapes of Wrath"
• Culbert Olson - Governor of California (1939-1943) and a strong supporter of labor unions; his election marked a shift towards more progressive policies in the state
• 1933 San Joaquin cotton strike - A major agricultural strike involving thousands of cotton pickers in California's Central Valley; exposed the harsh conditions and exploitation of farmworkers
• 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike - A three-month labor dispute that shut down ports along the West Coast; demonstrated the growing power and militancy of unions in California
• Dust Bowl migration - The mass exodus of farmers and workers from the drought-stricken Great Plains to California in the 1930s; transformed the state's demographics and strained its resources
• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - A New Deal program that employed young men in conservation projects across California; left a lasting legacy of parks, trails, and public infrastructure
• Works Progress Administration (WPA) - A federal agency that funded a wide range of public works, education, and arts projects in California during the Depression; provided jobs and support for the unemployed
• Federal Art Project - A division of the WPA that employed artists to create public murals, sculptures, and other works of art in California; fostered a vibrant cultural scene and social realist aesthetic
• "The Grapes of Wrath" - John Steinbeck's 1939 novel about a family of Dust Bowl migrants in California; became a national sensation and sparked controversy for its depiction of social injustice and labor struggles