Bear Flag Revolt

Definition

The Bear Flag Revolt was a brief uprising in 1846 by American settlers in California against the Mexican government, leading to the establishment of the California Republic, which was quickly absorbed into the United States during the Mexican-American War.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Bear Flag Revolt was led by a group of American settlers in California, who were unhappy with Mexican rule and wanted to establish an independent republic.
2. The revolt began on June 14, 1846, when a group of settlers seized the Mexican military outpost in Sonoma and raised a flag featuring a grizzly bear, which became the symbol of the California Republic.
3. The California Republic lasted for only 25 days before it was absorbed into the United States during the Mexican-American War, which had begun just a few weeks earlier.
4. The Bear Flag Revolt was closely tied to the concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent.
5. Commodore John D. Sloat, a U.S. naval officer, took control of Monterey, California, shortly after the Bear Flag Revolt and declared the territory a part of the United States.

Review Questions

• Describe the events and motivations behind the Bear Flag Revolt.
  • The Bear Flag Revolt was a brief uprising in 1846 by American settlers in California against the Mexican government. These settlers were unhappy with Mexican rule and wanted to establish an independent republic. On June 14, 1846, a group of settlers seized the Mexican military outpost in Sonoma and raised a flag featuring a grizzly bear, which became the symbol of the California Republic. The revolt was closely tied to the concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent.
• Explain the relationship between the Bear Flag Revolt and the Mexican-American War.
  • The Bear Flag Revolt occurred just a few weeks before the start of the Mexican-American War, which had a significant impact on the outcome of the revolt. The California Republic established during the Bear Flag Revolt was quickly absorbed into the United States during the Mexican-American War, as the U.S. sought to solidify its control over the region. Commodore John D. Sloat, a U.S. naval officer, took control of Monterey, California, shortly after the Bear Flag Revolt and declared the territory a part of the United States, further integrating the region into the United States during the ongoing conflict with Mexico.
• Analyze the role of Manifest Destiny in the Bear Flag Revolt and the subsequent annexation of California by the United States.
  • The concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, played a crucial role in the Bear Flag Revolt and the annexation of California by the United States. The American settlers who led the revolt were motivated by this belief, as they sought to establish an independent California Republic that would eventually become part of the United States. The rapid absorption of the California Republic into the United States during the Mexican-American War further demonstrates how Manifest Destiny shaped the expansion of the United States and the integration of new territories, such as California, into the growing nation. The Bear Flag Revolt and the subsequent annexation of California can be seen as key events in the broader context of Manifest Destiny and the United States' territorial expansion in the 19th century.

Related terms

California Republic: A short-lived independent nation established by American settlers in California during the Bear Flag Revolt, which was quickly annexed by the United States.

Manifest Destiny:

The 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, which helped drive the Mexican-American War and the annexation of California.

Commodore John D. Sloat: The U.S. naval officer who took control of Monterey, California, in 1846, shortly after the Bear Flag Revolt, and declared California a U.S. territory.