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