The Americans

 About the time General Vallejo was living his busy life, Americans came across the mountains to settle in Sonoma County. The first to arrive were rugged adventurers, traders and trappers from the east. They crossed the plains and mountains with ox teams and wagons. Later, Gold discovered in California would bring thousands of newcomers. Land grants were given by Spain and Mexico but would be poorly documented. Squatters (settlers who would just build on land they didn't own) would take advantage and settle on lands already owned by the Mexicans. California was changing.

 The Mexican government did not like the growing number of American settlers. The settlers feared they might get kicked out of California and decided to take it for themselves. They planned to have their own government and their own flag. Early on the morning of June 14, 1846, a band of Americans rode into the Pueblo and took General Vallejo prisoner. He was kept as a prisoner for 2 months at Sutter's Fort in the Sacramento Valley.

 A piece of unbleached muslin and some red flannel were used to make a white flag with a red stripe across the bottom. A grizzly bear and red star were painted on it. The grizzly bear stood for strength and courage. The one star on the flag showed that California wanted to be an independent nation. The words, "California Republic" printed at the bottom told the name of the new country for which this flag stood for.

original bear flag

This event became known as the Bear Flag Revolt.

The Bear Flag Revolt

 A few weeks after the Bear Flag was raised, the settlers at Sonoma learned that the United States and Mexico were at war. The American flag had be raised at Monterey, which was then the capital of California. On July 9, 1846, the American flag was brought to Sonoma. The Bear Flag came down after flying only 22 days. Sonoma County was now part of the territory of the United States.

The "Grizzly Banner" that flew over Sonoma for 22 days

 On September 9, 1850, California became the 31st state. The old Bear Flag became the new state flag.