When Los Angeles was established there were only 44 people. Now it has 4 million people. Many people today only know of the 49ers during the Gold Rush and the missions founded in the area but the city has a much deeper history. A mix of Spanish settlers, mixed, African and Native Americans founded LA. But how many people know this?
Los Angeles, like many other towns in California, was founded by the Spanish as an outpost. It was originally inhabited by Native Americans of the Chumash and Tongva tribes and was originally named Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula by the Spanish. It was near missions like San Fernando and San Gabriel. During the Mexican revolution it was incorporated into the new free country of Mexico.The Missions were confiscated by the government. During this time period large ranches were settled by Spanish settlers. Beginning in the 1820s Americans began moving to the area in large numbers. The United States acquired California during the Mexican-American war. More Yankees moved in after gold was discovered in the north but the city of Los Angeles remained a backwater. The city began to flow more after the transcontinental railroad went south and settlers could arrive for just $5 from the east. During this period lawlessness increased and violence on the street was daily. The oil industry grew and people became rich from the wells. Agriculture contributed to the rise of the town during that period but the movie industry is the thing that LA is most known for. It expanded during the early 20th century and the city became known for movies.
Due to a variety of reasons they expanded. The increased growth in the agriculture industry in the surrounding area and the waves of migration during the dust bowl. This boom increased during World War II and new jobs were created. Defense became a bigger industry on the west coast. After the war many veterans returned. Tension erupted against Latinos after the veterans returned home. This would be the first sign of racial unrest. During the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s the city was dominantly conservative Republican. During the late 20th violence increased in a riot in the Watts neighborhood by African Americans in 1965 who were fed up with the racial discrimination. The city elected its first Black Mayor, Tom Bradley. The city shifted to become more Democratic. The racial tensions continued in the 1990s with the Rodney King riots.
But today, little of that history is taught outside of museums and elementary schools. It remains unknown inside this school. Los Angeles history should be taught as an elective like other subjects including Ethnic studies and music. This course is important to students as other classes and maybe even more so. It is important for students to learn the history of the city, often things are forgotten about the city and its history like the history of racial violence. If students learned that things like that happened here rather than just in other states then they would be able to fight racism more in their daily lives rather than just seeing it as something that doesn’t happen here.
Learning about how the city was founded also is a tale of inspiration about how a backwater town became the second largest city in the country after New York and has a booming industry. More people learning about it can offer inspiration in their own lives to complete projects they might view as useless. Not only can the story of Los Angeles inspire but it can also allow students to fully understand certain monuments or landmarks. It helps us understand our surroundings better and therefore ourselves. We can understand where our traditions have come from.
Some say that we have enough classes already. Students have enough things to choose from and this class won’t benefit them and there are enough classes and there are not enough resources for another class. With the government cutting all that money there must be nothing left for education? But there are plenty of other classes that are added so why not add a period of Los Angeles History. Just like Ethnic Studies was added it doesn’t have to be required; it can be taught by just one period and teacher. Many might say Los Angeles history is too short and not immersive enough. It is immersive and it will provide fun for a semester class with a long history just like any other subject.
Right now the history is only in museums. That is the only opportunity students have to learn about LA history. In the Autry Museum of the West they had an exhibition examining the history of LA but the exhibit finished a few months ago and there is no place to truly get immersed in the history of the city. It is important to teach students the story of this city. Additionally this will increase their desire to stay in this city.
Los Angeles has a long history that often is not taught in schools. It is time to change that and begin teaching Los Angeles history at John Marshall High School.
