Following the outbreak of the Mexican American War
in 1846, military forces from the United States invaded Mexico. Naval
forces landed along the coast of California in July and proclaimed
that "henceforward California will be a portion of the United
States."
California's Mexican leaders denounced the invasion
and mobilized their forces against the Americans. On August 9, 1846,
Colonel José Castro called upon his fellow Californios "to
give to the entire world an example of loyalty and firmness, maintaining
in your breasts the unfailing love of liberty, and eternal hatred
toward your invaders! Long live the Mexican Republic! Death to the
invaders!"
