David Hewes (1822–1915) was a capitalist, philanthropist, and land developer who helped drive the golden spike that completed the first transcontinental railroad in 1869. His Hewes packing house was in operation from 1903 until 1939. This crate label for Hewes’ Transcontinental Brand dates from about 1930. Image courtesy the Orange Public Library, Orange, California.

Struggles in American Cities

The rush of new immigrants, the rapid development of cities, and the speedy growth of American industry caused severe growing pains in most states of the union, including California. As American industry grew, labor unions formed to fight for workers’ rights, including eight-hour days, an end to child labor, and safer working conditions.

In the wake of the Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction period in the Southern states, white racism against blacks took on a more frightening face with the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and a series of laws designed to keep blacks separate and unequal from whites.

In addition, some native-born white Protestants, fearful of the rising tide of immigrants from Catholic countries such as Italy, organized to keep Catholic immigrants from positions of power and influence. In California, poor European immigrants from countries such as Ireland battled with Chinese immigrants for jobs, fighting for room on the lowest rung of the economic ladder.

Becoming a Force in the National Economy

The story of California between 1850 and the first decade of the 20th century is one of increasing interdependence between state and nation. California gold was used to pay for the Civil War. The massive construction of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s linked California with the Atlantic states. Raw materials and gold were shipped by rail from California to the East, and tens of thousands of U.S. citizens traveled westward to California.

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