Lesson 3: Agriculture and Industry

Key Idea

In the late 1800s, California's agriculture changed in a big way. Farmers switched from growing mostly wheat to planting fruits like oranges, grapes, and lemons. The state's sunny weather and rich soil were perfect for these new crops.

This new type of farming needed many workers to plant and harvest everything. Much of this work was done by immigrants from countries like China, Japan, and Mexico. Their hard work was essential for helping California's farms grow and succeed.

Key Idea

In the late 1800s, California farmers began growing huge amounts of fruits and vegetables. They needed new ways to harvest these crops and ship them to faraway cities before they spoiled.

New inventions helped solve this problem. Powerful machines like the harvester allowed farmers to collect crops much faster. Then, special refrigerated railroad cars acted like big iceboxes on wheels, keeping food fresh during long train trips.

Key Idea

California's farms grew so much fruit that people needed a way to save it before it spoiled. This started the food canning industry. Factories were built where workers preserved fruits and vegetables in cans. This allowed food from California's farms to be sold all year long and shipped far away.

As farms and cities grew, people also needed to build more. They began mining for construction materials like rock and sand. These materials were used to build new roads, factories, and buildings for California's growing population.

Key Idea

California's big cities grew so fast they ran out of nearby water. Leaders in Los Angeles and San Francisco decided to bring water from mountains hundreds of miles away to support their growing populations.

They built enormous projects to move the water. Los Angeles constructed a long aqueduct to carry water from the Owens River. San Francisco built a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley to send water to the city.