The California state flag was designed in 1846 during the state’s battle to secede from Mexico. It features a brown bear, red star, and red stripe on a white background, and its symbolism includes the state’s fight for independence and support from the United States. The flag became the state’s official flag in 1911 and was updated in 1953.
The California state flag has a brown bear, red star, and red stripe on a white background. The history and symbolism of the California state flag are intertwined with the state’s battle to secede from Mexico. It was originally designed in 1846.
Before California became part of the United States, it was owned by Mexico. During this time, relations between Mexicans, the Mexican government, and Americans were strained. These tensions increased in 1836 following an uprising against Mexico, during which California declared itself a free independent state from Mexico. A white flag with a prominent red star was instituted, the idea of which may have been borrowed from the Texas Lone Star Flag. California’s independent status following this uprising did not last.
Tensions continued to rise in California and reached a boiling point again on June 10, 1846, when a band of men took a group of horses from a Mexican lieutenant. The fear was that the horses would be used for military action against the Americans in California. This band of rebels called themselves Osos, the Spanish word for bear, and this action started what is now known as the Bear Flag uprising.
The Osos then moved to Sonoma, California, recruiting men along the way. They reached Sonoma on June 14, 1846 and took control of the city without a fight. The Osos realized they needed a symbol to proclaim their capture of the city of Sonoma and the fight to make California independent. In the days between June 14 and June 17, 1846, a flag was created with the help of William Todd, grandson of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln. This flag, the predecessor of the California state flag, became known as the Bear Flag and had a white background, a red star, a bear, a bold stripe at the bottom, and the words “Republic of California.”
A red star was included on the flag to recognize valiant but failed efforts in 1836 to liberate California from Mexico. The bear was used to symbolize the Osos who helped conquer Sonoma, and the band at the bottom of the flag is thought to mimic the stripes on the national flag of the United States of America. This band may have been included to acknowledge the support provided by the United States in California’s efforts to break away from Mexico.
California became the 31st state of the United States in 1850. The bear flag became the California state flag in 1911. In 1953, the design specifications for the California state flag were clearly established and the flag was adopted modern. This current flag has a white background, a red star, a brown bear on a green patch of ground, and a red stripe along the bottom.
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