Definitions for Bear Revolt

Manifest Destiny was the belief in the 1800s that the United States was meant to expand across North America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Many Americans believed it was their destiny and even their duty to spread their government, culture, and way of life westward.

This idea helped drive Westward Expansion, as settlers moved into new territories seeking land, opportunity, and wealth. It also influenced major events such as:

• the annexation of Texas,

• the Oregon Trail migration,

• the Mexican-American War,

• and the settlement of California and the western territories.

While many Americans supported Manifest Destiny, it had serious consequences for Native American tribes and Mexico. Indigenous peoples were forced from their lands, and conflicts grew as the United States expanded westward.

Bear Flag Revolt was a short rebellion that took place in June of 1846 in what was then Mexican-controlled California. A group of American settlers in the town of Sonoma declared California independent from Mexico and created their own flag with a bear on it, called the “Bear Flag.”

The settlers believed the United States would soon take control of California during the Mexican-American War. They captured the Mexican military commander in Sonoma and announced the creation of the “California Republic.”

The revolt only lasted about 25 days. Soon after, the United States military arrived and raised the American flag over California, ending the short-lived republic. California later became part of the United States.

The Bear Flag Revolt is important because it showed how Manifest Destiny and westward expansion influenced Americans moving into California. The bear on today’s California state flag comes from this event.

A republic is a form of government in which the people choose leaders to represent them and make decisions for the country. Instead of being ruled by a king or queen, power belongs to the citizens and the laws they create together.

In a republic:

• People vote for leaders.

• Leaders are expected to follow a constitution or set of laws.

• The government is meant to serve the people.

The United States is a republic because Americans elect presidents, governors, senators, and other officials to represent them. The phrase “republic” comes from a Latin term meaning “public thing” or “affair of the people.”

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the agreement that ended the Mexican-American War in 1848.

In the treaty:

• Mexico agreed to give a huge amount of land to the United States.

• The United States paid Mexico $15 million for the land.

• The border between Texas and Mexico was set at the Rio Grande River.

The land the United States gained included areas that are now California, Nevada, Utah, most of Arizona and New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

The treaty was important because it greatly expanded the size of the United States and helped fulfill the idea of Manifest Destiny. It also led to major changes for the people already living in those territories, including Mexicans and Native American tribes.

A pioneer was a person who helped settle and explore new areas before many others arrived. During Westward Expansion, pioneers traveled west in wagons to build homes, farms, and towns in places that were new to them.

Many pioneers traveled on trails such as the Oregon Trail. The journeys were long and difficult, with challenges like bad weather, sickness, rough roads, and limited supplies.

Pioneers were often looking for:

• land to farm,

• new opportunities,

• gold,

• or a better life for their families.

Although pioneers helped expand the United States, westward settlement also caused Native American tribes to lose land and resources.

An emigrant is a person who leaves one place or country to move somewhere else to live permanently.

During Westward Expansion, many emigrants traveled west across the United States looking for land, jobs, gold, or a fresh start. Families often traveled in wagon trains along routes like the Oregon Trail and the California Trail.

For example:

• If a family left Missouri to move to California, they were emigrants from Missouri.

• When they arrived in California, they became immigrants to California.

The word “emigrant” focuses on leaving a place, while “immigrant” focuses on arriving in a new place.