DBQ #4

Governor Pat Brown and How He Greatly Impacted California

Betty Ho

LBS 375
Professor Cheek
November 16, 2014

Edmund G. Pat Brown accomplished many significant issues during

his terms as governor in California. Brown grew up in San Francisco and
graduated top of his class in high school. Brown was unable to attend
college because of high tuition fees, but he managed to work and put himself
through law school. In 1943 Brown was elected San Francisco District
Attorney and became states Attorney General in 1950. He eventually got
elected for governor in 1958 and won by over a million votes.1 Governor
Brown was named the Godfather of Modern California, according to the
documentary, California State of mind by Sascha Rice. Governor Brown was
willing to take risk for the right reasons. The documentary spoke about his
accomplishments he achieved over the years as Californias Governor. Some
of his accomplishments were State Water Project (SWP), improving higher
education, and affordable housing. Governor Browns achievements through
his terms as governor shaped California into the state it is today.
In the first inauguration in January 1959, Governor Brown addressed the
issue of water resources in California. He states I can tell you now that I will
soon present a water program, which is rational, realistic and responsive to
the needs of all the people of the state.2 That same year Governor Brown
signed the California Resource Development Bond Act which is also know
was the Burns Porter Act, authorizing the construction of the SWP. On a
Senate Bill No. 1106 it states
An act to add Chapter 8 (Commencing with Section 12930) to Part 6 of
Division 6 of the Water Code, relating to prevising for the development

of the water resources of the State by providing the funds necessary

therefor through the issuance and sale of bonds of the State of
California, and by providing for the handling and disposition of said
funds, and providing for the submission of this act to a vote of the
people at the general election to be held in the month of November,
1960.3
The bill indicates that voters still had to authorize the funding for the project.
Proposition 1 was passed and construction began in 1961. SWP was the
largest state-financed water project ever built.4 This was the biggest
accomplishment for Governor Brown.
Governor Browns second achievement during his term was an issue that was
close to his heart. Affordable education was a problem for Brown; he was
unable to attend college because of the high tuition fees. He believed that
people would make more money if they attended college. In 1960, Governor
Pat Brown inputted the Master Plan for Higher Education. Governor Brown
wanted everyone to have a chance at higher education regardless of their
status. Browns plan included very little to no tuition, more colleges needed
to be built including community college, state college, and Universities.5
During He wanted low tuition so that students with low income could attend
a university. Governor Browns Master Plan for Higher Education made
California Universities as well as public colleges a few of the best in the
world.

Segregation and discrimination against minorities existed throughout

California during this time. Housing discrimination against African American
and other minority groups was one of the largest issues that occurred.
African Americans were restricted to live in white neighborhoods and were
forced to live in areas that were over populated. Assemblymen William
Byron Rumford introduced the Fair Housing Act to eliminate segregation in
California and Governor Brown was on board. Brown was against proposition
14 stating the right to privacy and property, meaning that the Whites are
able to claim that their privacy is breached if an Africa American family
moved into the same neighborhood. Although, Brown risked everything to
defend the Fair Housing Act, in fear the loss of support, because that is was
not the popular thing to do.6 Brown was the first governor to outlaw
segregation and risked everything because he thought it was the right
decision.
Governor Browns legacy was accomplished because he believed in the
actions and the means of equal right for all. He seeks out problems and
worked hard to solve them. Because of his accomplishments during his
terms as governor, California flourished as a state. Edmund Pat Browns
legacy as governor will be remembered through his accomplishments of
water resources, improving higher education, and fair housing for
Californians.

Footnotes

"Governors of California - Edmund G. "Pat" Brown." Governors of California Edmund G. "Pat" Brown. Accessed November 17, 2014.
http://governors.library.ca.gov/32-pbrown.html. Web.
1

2 "Water Education Foundation." Edmund G. "Pat" Brown -. Accessed November

17, 2014. http://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia/edmund-g-pat-brown. Web.

3 Accessed November 17, 2014. http://mycalifornianow.com/images/1959-

Original-

Senate-Assembly-Bill.jpg.

"Water Education Foundation." Edmund G. "Pat" Brown -. Accessed November

17, 2014. http://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia/edmund-g-pat-brown. Web.
4

University of California, California Master Plan For Higher Education.

http://www.calstate.edu/AcadSen/Committees/fga/documents/ICAS_Master_Pl
an_forHigher_Education.pdf

6 Class Notes. 11-13-14