1846 Bear flag. The first California State flag made by Abraham Lincoln's nephew after seizing the town of Sonoma in the revolt of June 14th 1846.

1846 Bear flag. The first California State flag made by Abraham Lincoln's nephew after sieizing the town of Sonoma in the revolt of June 14th 1846. The Grizzly symbolizes courage. The single star may have come from the "Lone Star" on the flag of the Republic of Texas. California was governed by Mexico in 1846 when a small group of settlers from the United States marched on the town of Sonoma and took the Mexican officer there prisoner. A member of the group, William Ide, issued a statement saying that California was an Independent Republic. The United States won California and other land in the war with Mexico that ended in 1848. California became a state soon after that.

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