Flags of California

Californian colonists from the USA gradually more and more hardened against the Mexican local government. On 14 June 1846 they took the Presidium of Sonoma, disposed north of San Francisco, and proclaimed their settlement as an independent territory. This revolt purchased fame, as a Bear Flag Revolt, as on a flag of the state, where a Mexican flag was before blown about, was lifted new. On unbleached linen were represented a star, a grizzly bear (in that time a lot of bears live in the local forests) and the words "California Republic". The settlers underlined the independence of California from Mexico.

However the republic of insurgent Californian Americans lasted not a long time. On 7 July 1846 naval forces of the USA under the command of John Sloat erected the flag of United States on the Californian coast, in the town of Monterey and already formal proclaimed California a possession of the USA. In August Sloat was changed on a post the chief of the naval squadron by Robert F. Stockton, which led the new government of California, becoming its first governor. Because of the events, related to the gold-fever, California is often named the “Gold state”.