what was the bear flag republic?
The short-lived Bear Flag Republic was born. A hastily stitched flag, whose star and a grizzly bear's likeness some thought looked more porcine than ursine, was raised on the public square in Sonoma. The Republic of California, better known as the Bear Flag Republic, was estalished under the leadership of William B. Ide. A proclamation set forth the justification and purpose of the revolution, but before the government could get properly underway, the short-lived Bear Flag Republic was eclipsed by the arrival of the U.S. Navy under the command of John D. Sloat on July 10.