| Some historians say that if the Mayflower had | | | | California. |
| landed on California's coast instead of the eastern | | | | Still another proposal would divide California into a |
| seaboard, the state would have been divided into | | | | number of small states. This suggestion is |
| several small states, similar to the New England | | | | deemed to be a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that |
| region. | | | | would Balkanize California into small states lacking |
| Consider that it takes longer to drive from | | | | adequate resources and virtually no power |
| California's northern border to its southern | | | | nationally. |
| boundary than it does to travel on the opposite | | | | Perhaps the most radical suggestion, and also |
| coast from Maine through six New England states | | | | done facetiously, would make California a |
| to Washington, D.C. | | | | separate nation. This proposal was the brainchild |
| There have been at least 26 different proposals | | | | of San Jose Mercury newsman Ted Bredt, who |
| to split California. | | | | noted that California's resources and financial |
| The issue to divide California first arose when | | | | potential were larger than those of many nations. |
| those in the southern part of the state wanted | | | | In 1849, Jose Antonio Carrillo, a southern delegate |
| the Capital there, while those in the northern part | | | | to the Constitutional Convention, proposed a split |
| of the state likewise wanted it. | | | | of California at San Luis Obispo. The southern part |
| The location of the Capital, it was believed, would | | | | of the state would become a territory, while the |
| dictate the area that would receive the most | | | | northern part would become a state. |
| political considerations. | | | | Other delegates at the Constitutional Convention |
| Disvisionists first wanted to divide California and | | | | proposed including what is now California, but also |
| locate the capitol either in Monterey, Los Angeles, | | | | Nevada, Utah, and Arizona in the new state. This |
| or in San Diego. Northerners felt they were being | | | | proposal was rejected out of hand as it would |
| overtaxed to pay for Southern California's | | | | create a state too large. |
| education, social programs, and justice system. | | | | In 1852, some Californians near the Oregon |
| Another divisive issue between the north and the | | | | border expressed their strong dissatisfaction over |
| south was the matter of water. The south was | | | | high taxes, poor mail service, and the lack of |
| dependent on the north for its water. Northerners | | | | military protection against California Indian tribes. |
| felt the dams and facilities necessary to transport | | | | They wanted to form the State of Shasta. |
| water to the south were causing unwanted | | | | There were attempts by one northern California |
| geographic and climatic changes. Some felt even | | | | area to separate from California altogether. This |
| the earthquakes, such as one in Oroville in 1975, | | | | was in 1856, when Isaac Newton Roop, the |
| were a result of the construction of water | | | | founder of Susanville, and Peter Lassen, the |
| facilities. | | | | explorer for whom Lassen County was named, |
| Advocates of dividing the state voiced a common | | | | sought to form an independent territory. |
| grievance: California was just too big, and, | | | | This territory would be made up by parts of both |
| therefore ungovernable. | | | | northern California and of Nevada, which they |
| In 1864, a state-splitting measure was placed on | | | | would call Nataqua, a word meaning woman in the |
| the ballot, approved by voters, signed by the | | | | local Indian language. |
| Governor, and sent to Congress. Congress did not | | | | Later, in 1854, resolutions were drafted to form |
| approve it. | | | | the State of Klamath, which would include portions |
| No state in the U.S. has been split into two or | | | | of Northern California and of Southern Oregon. |
| more regions since 1862, when the western part | | | | Also in 1854, San Bernardino Assemblyman |
| of the state of Virginia opposed Virginia's | | | | Jefferson Hunt introduced a bill for the creation of |
| secession from the Union in 1861, and Congress | | | | a new state of Columbia, covering the area from |
| recognized it as the state of West Virginia. | | | | Santa Cruz to the Mexican Border. |
| Most proposals to divide California would split the | | | | It is unlikely that California will ever be divided. |
| state horizontally into two parts, either at the | | | | Any proposal aimed at splitting the state must |
| Tehachapi Mountains or at a northern point just | | | | gain the consent of the legislature, and then be |
| above or below Sacramento. There was at least | | | | approved by Congress as well. |
| one suggestion, however, that the state be | | | | Still, the state-splitting issue is likely to emerge |
| divided vertically into East and West California. | | | | many times in the future, as it is an easy way |
| Another suggestion proposed dividing California | | | | for a politician to get space in the press. |
| into three states, North, South, and Central | | | | |