California Republic

The California Republic, also known as the Bear Flag Republic, was a short-lived, unrecognized breakaway state from Mexico. It existed from June 14 to July 9, 1846, militarily controlling an area north of San Francisco, around what is now Sonoma County. The republic was formed by American immigrants who rebelled against the Mexican government, partly due to grievances over land rights and threats of expulsion. Covertly encouraged by U.S. Army Brevet Captain John C. Frémont, the rebellion coincided with the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. The name "California Republic" appeared on the insurgents' flag, which featured a grizzly bear and later inspired California's state flag. The republic's military was subsumed into the California Battalion, and the entity ceased to exist when the U.S. flag was raised in Sonoma.