Seminar, 14 hours. Limited to freshmen/sophomores. Exploration of California legal history, with focus on issues of race and racism, beginning with mid-19th-century transition from Mexican Alta California to U.S. territory and statehood. Topics include state measures affecting California Indians in 19th century, African Americans in California's 19th-century history, measures used to curtail Chinese immigration laws designed to prevent racial intermixing, Alien Land Laws aimed at Japanese residents of California, relocation of Japanese citizens after Pearl Harbor, California's response to U.S. immigrants from dust bowl during great depression, post-World War II through 1960s measures aimed at equal access to things like home ownership, employment, and rental housing, and uses of initiative in modern era. P/NP or letter grading.