One hundred and sixty nine years ago in a frontier town, a band of thieves, drunks and murderers hoisted a home-made flag and declared themselves in revolt from a government that had welcomed them.
That town was Sonoma, the area was California, and the agitators, American pioneers impelled on by guarantees of assistance from U.S. Armed force Captain John Fremont. The agitator standard, the banner of the California Republic, turned into the California State Flag. Like the Confederate cross of St. Andrew, the Bear Flag is an image whose time has gone back and forth.
When the Legislature voted to adopt the rebel standard as the state flag in 1911, California was in the grip of a racist, jingoistic fever. The measure was sponsored by Sen. James Holohan from Watsonville, a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West. The obvious intent of the measure was to glorify the Bear Flaggers, who were hailed as wholesome patriots. But that was far from the truth.
Its leader, Ezekiel Merrit, was described by historian H.H. Bancroft as "an unprincipled, whiskey drinking, quarrelsome fellow." Known as Stuttering Merrit, he was a thief who in 1848 reportedly stole 200 pounds of gold from his business partner.
William Todd, who laid out the flag, from a Kentucky slave proprietors. The following is the first lieutenant, Henry L. Portage, was a U.S. Armed force coward and Sam Kelsey, the second lieutenant.
The grizzly bear was a symbol of great strength while the star made reference to the Lone Star of Texas. The flag only flew until July 9, 1846, when it was learned that Mexico and the United States were already at war. Soon after, the Bear Flag was replaced with the American flag. It was adopted as the State Flag by the State Legislature in 1911. The current California State Flag, adopted by the state legislature in 1911, is based on the original Bear Flag raised by pioneering Americans over Sonoma in 1846. The star was taken from the lone star of Texas. The Bear was representative of the numerous Grizzly Bears in the state and the words "The California Republic" testify to the feisty American pioneers who settled in the territory.
That town was Sonoma, the area was California, and the agitators, American pioneers impelled on by guarantees of assistance from U.S. Armed force Captain John Fremont. The agitator standard, the banner of the California Republic, turned into the California State Flag. Like the Confederate cross of St. Andrew, the Bear Flag is an image whose time has gone back and forth.
When the Legislature voted to adopt the rebel standard as the state flag in 1911, California was in the grip of a racist, jingoistic fever. The measure was sponsored by Sen. James Holohan from Watsonville, a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West. The obvious intent of the measure was to glorify the Bear Flaggers, who were hailed as wholesome patriots. But that was far from the truth.
Its leader, Ezekiel Merrit, was described by historian H.H. Bancroft as "an unprincipled, whiskey drinking, quarrelsome fellow." Known as Stuttering Merrit, he was a thief who in 1848 reportedly stole 200 pounds of gold from his business partner.
William Todd, who laid out the flag, from a Kentucky slave proprietors. The following is the first lieutenant, Henry L. Portage, was a U.S. Armed force coward and Sam Kelsey, the second lieutenant.
The grizzly bear was a symbol of great strength while the star made reference to the Lone Star of Texas. The flag only flew until July 9, 1846, when it was learned that Mexico and the United States were already at war. Soon after, the Bear Flag was replaced with the American flag. It was adopted as the State Flag by the State Legislature in 1911. The current California State Flag, adopted by the state legislature in 1911, is based on the original Bear Flag raised by pioneering Americans over Sonoma in 1846. The star was taken from the lone star of Texas. The Bear was representative of the numerous Grizzly Bears in the state and the words "The California Republic" testify to the feisty American pioneers who settled in the territory.
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