Write a paper about a topic in California History prior to 2001.

Write a paper about a topic in California History prior to 2001.
Q: What should I write about, professor?
A: You can write about any topic that relates to California History before 2001. It must have a thesis (argument), supported with evidence. For example, how did the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 affect the city? (or) how was California impacted during the Mexican-American War? (or) how did the Spanish flu of 1918-1919 impact California? So the best way to come up with an idea is to first, find a topic then come up with a question surrounding that topic as noted above. The answer to your question could be your possible thesis or focus for your paper. If you have any questions, let me know.
Some other suggestions:
Look through your assigned textbooks for topic ideas. REMEMBER, some topics can be very broad so you will need to narrow down your topic to a time period, a location, an event, or a historical figure.
Sometimes a theme can be helpful for developing a topic idea. Here are some themes to consider:
Religion (i.e. the Mission system during the Spanish era, Mission founder/Spanish priest Junipero Serra)
Societies/People (i.e. the Okie Migration, California tribal groups such as the Yokuts or Chumash, the Californio rancho society)
Indian Rebellions/Slavery (i.e. Estanislao’s Rebellion, Genizaros)
Business/Economy/Growth of Cities (i.e. California Gold Rush, Types of Gold Mining, the Rise of Hollywood, the forming of early California cities such as Gold Rush San Francisco or Los Angeles in the Mexican or early U.S. era)
War/Revolts (i.e. the Bear Flag Revolt, the Mexican American War with a California focus, those who served in a war, California women during World War 2 such as the Rosie the Riveters, Japanese American internment)
Law/Justice (i.e. the Wong Kim Ark case, Vigilance Committees, the Mendez vs Westminster case, Mexican Repatriations in 1930s, Laws affecting African Americans or immigrants such as Chinese, Japanese or Mexican)
Gender (i.e. the Women’s Suffrage Movement in California, the Gay Rights Movement in California, Caroline Severance, Bridget Biddy Mason who went from slavery to humanitarian, Black civil rights crusader Mary Ellen Pleasant, UFW co-founder/activist Dolores Huerta, Dame Shirley aka Louise Amelia Knapp Clappe during Gold Rush, California lawyer/publisher/suffragette Laura de Force Gordon, Clara Shortridge Foltz, who was the first female lawyer in California)
Disease/Disasters (i.e. the Spanish Flu in California, San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, the Donner Party, the Dust Bowl impact on California)
Disputes/Riots/Protests (i.e. the Battle of Mussel Slough, Watts Riot)
Politics (i.e. Hiram Johnson, Earl Warren, Harvey Milk, Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Donahoe or Walter Stiern, two lawmakers/advocates of higher education)
Immigration (i.e. Amnesty legislation of 1986)
Activism (i.e the Black Panther Party, the UFW or Cesar Chavez, Filipino activist Larry Itliong or Filipinos in the Farm Worker Movement
Railroad politics (i.e. The Big Four such as Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, the impact of the Central Pacific Railroad or Southern Pacific Railroad in California)
Agriculture (i.e. cotton, the Bracero Program)
Oil (i.e. 1920s oil boom in California or Oil tycoon Edward Doheny)
Water (i.e. Hetch Hetchy controversy or the Owens Valley water dispute)
If you have another idea, please let your professor know.

Last Completed Projects