The California Republic was a short-lived, never legally recognized republic that existed in 1846. A group of Californians declared independence, raising a flag with a bear and a star. Less than a month later, the flag was lowered, and the United States formally annexed California. The modern California state flag includes the bear and star motif, despite California being a state of the United States.
The California Republic was a short-lived and never legally recognized republic that existed in what is now known as California in 1846, during the Mexican-American War. A group of rebel Californians jumped the gun and declared sovereignty in California as US troops were already on the move into California with the intent of annexing then-Mexican territory. The main legacy of this colorful incident in California history is the California state flag, which is based on the flag raised during the rebellion.
Alta California, as it was known during its time as a Mexican Territory, was a restless place in 1846. Numerous rumors circulated about the territory’s fate, and some of these rumors were quietly encouraged by U.S. government agents, such as a renegade cartographer John Charles Fremont. Fremont actually attempted to take over territory in California before fleeing in early 1846, and on June 14, 1846, a group of white settlers decided to break free from Mexico and declare independence.
They stormed the residence of Mexican General Mariano Vallejo, who surrendered without a single shot being fired, and hastily raised a flag in the town square of Sonoma, California. The flag depicted a bear and a single star modeled after the Lone Star of Texas, with the words “California Republic” emblazoned underneath. According to John Bidwell, an observer at the scene, several people remarked that the bear on the new flag looked suspiciously like a pig.
Less than a month later, on July 9, the Bear Flag was lowered and the flag of the United States was raised, ending the California Republic and marking the beginning of the United States’ formal annexation of California. The historic flag fought its way through a number of hands and is believed to have perished in the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906, although photographs of the flag exist to show us what it once looked like.
The modern flag of California includes the bear and star motif along with the words “California Republic,” despite the fact that California is a state of the United States, not an independent republic. California was not the only former Mexican territory to briefly declare independence before annexation, but its republic may have been the shortest. A historical marker can be seen in Sonoma where the California Republic was first declared and the city has periodic events to celebrate this period in California’s history.
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