1. SS 3-5: How did CA’s Government Change?

2. Mexican War of 1846
April 1846 war between the US and Mexico happened on the Rio Grande River
Rio Grande was the border/boundary between the two countries
April 25, a large force of Mexicans crossed the river
Attacked US soldiers

3. Causes of the Mexican War
1821 Mexico gained independence from Spain
Owned large amounts of land Mexican provinces (New Mexico, California, and Texas)
US settlers in Texas didn’t like Mexican rule
1836 settlers fought and won Texas Revolution and became independent from Mexico= became own country
1845 US annexed (added) Texas to the US
Made Mexican gov’t angry
US wanted to expand west= manifest destiny
1845 US tried to buy land west from Mexico
Willing to pay $30 million, but Mexico refused

4. Leading to the Bear Flag Revolt
Mexican war began and as Colonel Kearney led troops through the Mexican provinces, they claimed towns they passed.
Kearney told Mexicans that land belonged to US
August 18, 1846: Kearney and troops reached Santa Fe, New Mexico
New Mexico raised army of Mexicans and American Indians- they left their post= Kearney raising US flag
Most New Mexicans accepted it, but a group of New Mexicans and Pueblo Indians started a rebellion in Taos
US eventually stopped the rebellion and New Mexico was under the control of the US

5. The War in California: Summer 1846
Californios and American Indians wanted Mexico to continue to govern
American settlers did not
US army captain, John Fremont encouraged a small group of settlers in northern CA to rebel
June 14, 1846: small group of settlers rose up in Sonoma
Arrested Mexican army commander and captured military weapons
Settlers wrote a declaration of independence from Mexico and declared CA to be the Bear Flag Republic

6. The Bear Flag Revolt
Bear Flag rebels had minimal control of northern CA
July 1846 American soldiers came and took over the land claimed by the Bear Flag rebels
Other soldiers claimed Los Angeles and San Diego
Military leaders were in control, but had trouble
Only a few hundred soldiers supported them
They angered the Californios b/c they set harsh rules
Didn’t allow them to carry weapons
Californios rebelled and gained control of southern CA
January 1847: Kearney stopped rebellion
US captured CA

7. Changes in control of CA in the 1840’s: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty named after the city north of Mexico City where treaty was signed
United States paid $15 million for the area of Arizona, California, western Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah
U.S. also settled $3 million in claims made by the U.S. citizens against Mexico