The Bear Flag Republic of California – Legends of America
Okay, let’s talk about California. Not the one you know today with Hollywood and tech giants, but way back when it was a whole different ball game. We’re going back to the time of missions, ranches, and a whole lot of folks wanting a piece of the Golden State pie.
The Mission Days
So, picture this: California, along with Baja California and Baja California Sur (which are now part of Mexico), was rocking the mission vibe, thanks to Spain. These missions were basically the "it" places back then, loaded with grain, cattle, and horses. Most people were either Spanish or Native American, living the mission or ranch life.
But then, Mexico was like, "Nah, we’re not taking orders from Spain anymore!" in 1822. That’s when Alta (Upper) California became a Mexican territory, and later, a republic with governors sent from Mexico.
The mission priests weren’t thrilled. They thought Spain should still be calling the shots. Soon enough, orders came down that the missions were to be turned into pueblos (towns), and the priests couldn’t "employ" the Indians anymore. Missionaries were to stay as priests and teach the Indians in schools, but the mission lands were to be divided so that each Indian family could cultivate a small farm. From that time, the Missions began to decay and were finally given up to ruin.
Here Come the Americans
That’s when the Americans started rolling in, the first group of hunters and trappers traveling from Salt Lake City, Utah, to the San Gabriel Mission. They couldn’t stop yapping about how awesome California was, how easy it was to farm, and how much they wanted land.
The Mexicans and native Californians weren’t too keen on this. They didn’t want these "Americans" (as they called everyone from the Eastern states) taking their land, hunting all the animals, and generally shaking things up. So, yeah, there was some serious tension. But the Americans kept coming, grabbing land grants, and building houses.
California: A Free State?
In 1836, Alta California declared itself a free state, no longer looking to Mexico for support. But Mexican rule continued. The United States had wanted California for a long time and had tried to buy it from Mexico. The fine bay and harbor of San Francisco, known to be the best along the coast, was especially needed by the United States to shelter or repair ships on their way to the Oregon settlements. England also wanted this bay, but the Californians tried to keep everyone out of their country.
Enter John C. Frémont
Among the Americans who came overland and across the Rocky Mountains about this time was John C. Fremont, a surveyor and engineer called the “Pathfinder.” On his third trip to the Pacific Coast in 1846, he wished to spend the winter near Monterey with his 60 hunters and mountaineers. Jose Castro, the Mexican general, ordered him to leave the country at once, but Fremont answered by raising the American flag over his camp. As Castro had more men, Fremont did not think it wise to fight but marched away, intending to go north to Oregon. He returned to the Klamath country because of snow and Indians and camped where the Feather River joins the Sacramento. It is almost certain that Fremont wished to provoke Castro and the Californians into war and capture the country for the United States.
The Bear Flag Revolt
A party of Fremont’s men rode down to Sonoma, where there was a Mission and a presidio with a few cannons in charge of General Mariano Vallejo. These men captured the place and sent Vallejo and three other prisoners back to Fremont’s camp. Then, the independent Americans decided to have a new republic and a flag. So, they made the famous “Bear flag” of white cloth, with a strip of red flannel sewed on the lower edge, and on the white, they painted in red a large star and a grizzly bear, and also the words “California Republic.” They then raised the flag over the Bear-flag Republic. Many Americans joined their party, but the stars and stripes replaced the bear flag when the American flag went up at Monterey.
War with Mexico
At this time, the United States and Mexico were at war because of Texas, and Commodore John D. Sloat oversaw the warships on the Pacific Coast. The commodore had been told to take Alta California, if possible, so, sailing to Monterey, he raised the stars and stripes there in July 1846 and ended Mexican power forever. The American flag flew at the San Francisco Presidio two days later and at Sonoma, Sutter’s Fort, or wherever there were Americans. The flag was greeted with cheers and delight. Then Commodore Sloat turned the naval force over to Commodore R.F. Stockton and returned home, leaving all quiet north of Santa Barbara.
Taking Control
Commodore Stockton sent Fremont and his men to San Diego and, taking 400 soldiers, went to Los Angeles. The native Californians and Mexicans were determined to fight against the United States rule. General Castro, his men, and Governor Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor, were driven out of the country. Stockton then declared that Upper and Lower California were to be known as the “Territory of California.”
But hold up! In less than a month, the Californians in the south regrouped and took back Los Angeles. That’s when General Stephen Kearny and his "Army of the West" showed up to help Fremont and Stockton sort things out. After a few battles, peace was declared, and Kearny became the governor of the new territory, replacing Fremont. Finally, in 1848, the Mexican War ended with a treaty that made Alta California part of the United States, while Baja California stayed with Mexico.
Gold Fever!
From that time, there was peace, and before long, the discovery of gold made the new territory very important. The rush to the gold mines brought thousands of men, and as no government had been provided for the territory, Governor Riley called a convention in 1849 to form a government plan.
This Constitutional Convention of delegates from each of California’s towns met in Monterey. The constitution they drafted lasted 30 years; under it, California was built up. It declared that no slavery should ever be allowed here and settled the present eastern boundary line.
So, there you have it! A whirlwind tour of California’s wild ride from missions to the Bear Flag Republic to becoming part of the United States. It was a bumpy road, but it paved the way for the California we know and love today.