HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA-HIST XL M155

Political and Business Leaders’ Role in Shaping the Growth of Los Angeles

The Mexican-American War played a significant part in shaping the city’s future. The city transformed on all fronts, including cultural, social, and economic. One of the most immediate results of this war was the influx of Americans into the city. In turn, the city experienced an increase in its population, and these changes influenced demographic trends. All through these changes, racism, and white supremacy were the determining factors that influenced the lives of Indians and Mexicans. As the city kept growing and expanding, it banked on the cheap labour from the aforementioned groups, and little thought was given to these marginalized groups. The political and business leaders actively took action to protect the interests of the white people. This paper argues that the end of the Mexican-American War marked a period of growth in Los Angeles. Political and business leaders made use of the increased activity to turn it into a city and a centre for trade and opportunity, despite the constant social tensions and cultural shifts the city was experiencing. 

            Following the war, the city witnessed several policies and regulations that ultimately played a defining role in the direction and growth the city experienced. The American legal system was adopted, doing away with the Mexican system that had been in use before the war (Kim 43). This means American laws, courts, and legal procedures have started to be used. Additionally, the city witnessed the setting up of municipal councils and administrative governments that were in use in other cities in the US. The Land Act of 1851 is one example of a law that shaped the city. This provision provided avenues for land ownership conflicts that had been resolved in the previous administration. It laid out ways for soldiers to make their claims and how the authorities were to determine rightful ownership. The adaptation and practice of this legislation had very negative impacts on the indigenous community. The main intention of this law was to consolidate land ownership rights and protect the interests of American settlers (MacWilliams 92). The indigenous community, which had lived longer on the same land, had no such official form of land titles or ownership, and they were displaced and dispossessed of the land (MacWilliams 323). This is an example of how in the new country, the pace of indigenous people was not considered, as the priority remained to push the success of the Americans, and the Indigenous people were marginalized and left struggling on the land they had a legitimate claim to.

            As a city that was experiencing a rapid population increase, the need for infrastructure took precedence. Political and business leaders took the initiative to accommodate the emerging needs, and they prioritized the development of essential infrastructure as part of their governing strategy. The city has made huge investments in the development and construction of roads and bridges. The Los Angeles River also witnessed several improvements and modifications during this period. The city’s leadership sought to control the river, as it had on various occasions flooded the city and caused losses of life and property (MacWilliams 226). Some of the improvements that were attempted include the construction of concrete channels and flood control basins (MacWilliams 225). These basins were an attempt to direct the flooding water away from the populated areas. Later on, the concrete channels were removed to conserve the environment and restore and rehabilitate the natural environment. Additionally, the reintroduction of native vegetation and ecosystems was found to be a way of promoting the river’s health. This river has always been a very central contributor to the city of Los Angeles during its earlier years. It was the source of water for irrigation; it acted as a transportation channel that helped boost the city’s trading and commerce; and it also provided the water that was used by industries along its bank to harness power for manufacturing processes. All these functions were the foundation of the city’s economic and commercial backbone.

The leaders of Los Angeles sought to create a city that resembled the model of many other urban areas, such as Chicago and San Francisco. In this model, the city’s relationship with the hinterland is more often parasitic than symbiotic. This was exemplified by the city drawing resources from the hinterland so that they could sustain the city, or at times, for personal fortune. Because Los Angeles was at the time experiencing heightened rates of urbanization and industrialization, it required a great deal of raw materials and resources so that these advancements could continue (Kim 20). However, the contributions the hinterland made went unrewarded, as the benefits of industrialization and urbanization were only enjoyed by city dwellers. This caused rural communities to experience economic decline as the city grew more and more, attracting more investors and people to live and work in it.

The Americanization of Los Angeles that happened after the war inarguably brought growth and expansion to the city. More and more people were moving into the city, and this led to its leaders finding ways to sustain the city. The adoption of new forms of governance had benefits like streamlining land ownership, which paved the way for more developments to be made within the laid-out regulations. This created a stable political environment that made it easier for people to invest in the city. In this progress, the indigenous people received fewer benefits compared to any other group. They were removed from the land they had lived on and depended on for their sustenance as the city expanded as a result of urbanization.

Works Cited

Kim, Jessica M. Imperial metropolis: Los Angeles, Mexico, and the borderlands of American empire, 1865–1941. UNC Press Books, 2019.

McWilliams, Carey. Southern California: An Island on the Land. Gibbs Smith Publisher; Salt Lake City, 2010.