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The Bear Flag Revolt occurred on June 14, 1846 when a small band of Americans in Sonoma, California raised a rudimentary flag marked by a lone bear above the Mexican stockade there. This ushered in the brief existence of the Bear Flag Republic, the independent California that ceased to exist less than a month later when on July 9, 1846 the United States military raised the American flag over northern California. The Bear Flag Revolt has resulted in numerous controversies, many of which have naturally been picked up by scholars. One such controversy that has proven central in many scholarly works is the role that United States expansionism played in the outbreak of the rebellion. The question of whether the Americans who declared their independence from Mexico and the Californios were directly motivated by American expansion comes to the forefront. An extension of this question is that of whether the United States government had an active role in promulgating the rebellion. Scholars of this notion point to the clear fact that President James K. Polk was an avid expansionist, who partially gained office by stating that he would bring California into the Union. This argument is furthered by the mysterious journey of one Lieutenant Archibald Gillespie, who was known to have met with Polk, and then traveled to California where he met with the United States consul in Alta California, Thomas O. Larkin, and the commander of the Pacific Fleet John D. Slope. Upon delivering his messages he went north and met Colonel John C. Frémont, who turned south, rode into California, and then the Bear Flag Revolt conveniently took place. Many scholars point to this rather suspicious series of events as proof that President Polk sent secret orders to Larkin, Slope, and Frémont to take California by dubious means, thereby adding a crown jewel of American expansion to the empire. However, as one may imagine, this is not the only viewpoint shared by scholars.
Other scholars point to the fact that the content of Gillespie’s letters was never recorded. Gillespie most likely memorized the letters and then destroyed them to avoid an intelligence leak. The point is made that if the actual content of the letters was, and never can be known, a true declaration of Federal involvement cannot be made. Others argue that within Alta California, as Mexican California was then known, there was a growing degree of dissent by the Americans who had settled within it. To some, the Bear Flag Revolt was an event that American settlers turned to the American Revolution as inspiration for. They were an isolated band of Americans, who no longer wished to be under the thumb of Mexican rule. This viewpoint is bolstered by other bands of Americans throughout Alta California who called for looking to Texas as an inspiration to resist Mexican rule over their lives. Other bands suggested looking overseas, to Britain or France, for support against Mexico. Scholars of this view argue that Frémont and his men only joined the Bear Flaggers later, when they had already made their claim for independence without any word or aid from the United States.
Of certain importance in answering this question of the role of American expansionism on the Bear Flag Revolt is understanding the “leader” of it, Colonel John C. Frémont. His aims, goals, and actions in California have also resulted in much scholarly debate, with some praising him and others condemning him. Regardless, he stands as an important figure in this quagmire, and must feature in any discussion regarding the Bear Flag Revolt. Frémont’s actual role in the revolt has been much debated, as has his legitimacy of reentering California after he and his small cadre of men had left to Oregon. For many years Frémont has been prominently featured in this expansionist question, with both sides using him to further their arguments. He is very much an enigma within the riddle that is the Bear Flag Revolt.