The United States in 1846 declared war on Mexico,
and during the course of that war American military forces seized
California. The war was fueled in part by feelings of Manifest Destiny,
a popular sentiment in the United States that viewed the expansion
of the nation as an inevitability.
The arrival in Mexican California
of John C. Frémont, a loose
cannon, sparked a rebellion by Anglo-Americans in the province.
Their uprising became known as the Bear Flag Revolt, although the
image
on their banner resembled more a pig than a bear.
Military forces
from the United States soon landed along the coast and marched
into the interior. The Californios fought well against
the Americans, scoring a victory with their long lances at San
Pascual. Ultimately, however, the Mexican forces were defeated
in far larger
engagements elsewhere. The war ended with the signing of the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 and the cession of vast lands
from
Mexico to the United States. This treaty and transfer marked
the end of
Mexican sovereignty in California.
