1.
Water is known as “liquid Gold” since it is vital to the state’s urban centers, environmental conversation, agriculture, industry, scenic beauty and recreation. However, the commodity has experienced immersed controversy though out California’s history citing battles of dynamite blasts in the past to the present day battles in court rooms and the United States congress over who gets how much of the valuable reserve. The water issues result from lack of a reliable season rainfall during summer making the commodity limited to the population. The Wright Act was passed in 1887, when the legislators debated on the issues of riparianism, appropriation and role of the government. The Act, sponsored by C.C Wright of Modesto, provided for the creation of irrigation districts under local public control and abolished the “California Doctrine” of dual water rights that had no clear definition in courts (Starr, 168). Only few initial districts formed under the Wright Act were successful and before the success could be spread, much of the central valley was put under cultivation by private water companies and irrigation districts by the beginning of the 20th century. Building of aqueducts involved construction of a network of pumping plants, canals and reservoirs to transport water from Lake Havasu to the coastal plains. The project began in 1928 when Los Angeles joined forces with several other communities all seeking access to more water forming the metropolitan water district of southern California. Water deliveries from Colorado River began in 1941 and water arrived in the Coachella valley 24months later. Clearly, the lasting legacies were the constant water supplies for the stakeholders of the metropolitan water district of southern California and abolition of dual water rights.
2.
California was a leading liberal progressive movement state in the United States since the beginning of the 20th century. The main concerns of the progressives were the purification of government by eliminating corruption and undercutting political bosses and machine, the potential dangers posed by the construction of the southern pacific rail road citing a successful campaign slogan “Kick the southern pacific out of politics” by governor Hiram Johnson in 1910, labor unions which they supported as they assisted eliminate middle class voters and native stock protestant and liquor trade. The progressive era was characterized by social activities and political reforms (Starr, 324). Progressives were concerned with political and social change events such as the great depression as they believe in higher level of independence and self reliance as well as no government interference in private economic matters. The conservative progressives on the other hand have maintained the legacy of re-establishing set boundaries and limits of the government since the enactment of the constitution of the United States. The leaders advocated for state’s rights, free and fair market solutions, American manufactured goods and fiscal responsibility.
3.
The Great Depression in California was a period when the region became a battleground fro socialists, free speech advocates and labor activists often faced with resistance from a confrontational right using tear gas wielding police, vigilante squads, antiunion crackdowns and suppression of civil liberties. The state tolerated the struggles of striking migrant dust bowl farm workers and waterfront workers who challenged the water agribusiness oligarchy (Starr, 191). This led to the closure of factories and businesses rendering many people jobless. Farmer lost their land; people had little money to spend and the worst drought in history was experienced in 1934 whereby soil dried up and dust storms turned the sky black and covered everything in dirt.
4.
The political platform EPIC campaign was started in early1930s by a socialist worker, Upton Sinclair, at a time when life for migrants in California was difficult as jobs were scarce and they faced discrimination (Starr, 114). The plan endorsed considerable civic works program, guaranteed pensions and extensive tax alteration. The campaign received support amid thousands of people joining the campaign unions across California however, the campaign failed owing to Sinclair’s loss in the elections held in 1934 but its sway was evident on the new deals programs endorsed by President F. Roosevelt leading to the creation of schools, unparalleled public works program, urban improvement projects and settlement of displaced poor in migrant camps.
Works cited
Starr, Kevin. California: A History. New York: Modern Library, 2007.
