Elizabeth Anderson Lopez - California: Becoming a State

Leading a Rebellion John Frmont was an American army officer. He came to California in the spring of 1846. No one is sure if he was ordered to start a revolt. But he did. Frmont urged American settlers to form a militia and rebel against Mexico. He inspired the Bear Flag Revolt. Frmont holds the flag marking California's independence.1717page0017page0017.xhtmlThe Mexican-American War In 1846, California was still a part of Mexico. Mexican troops attacked American soldiers in Texas. The war went on for two years. In that time, U.S. troops never lost a major battle. In the end, the United States won the war. Each side paid a high price for the war. More than 13, 000 Americans died. Diseases and soiled living conditions claimed most lives. For every one man killed in battle, seven men died from illnesses. Mexico's death toll was even higher. It lost twice as many people. At the end of the war, the two countries signed a treaty. This deal let the United States buy a huge piece of land. The land was in the West. That was how California became part of the United States. It was 1848, and the country was changed forever. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed at the end of the war.1818page0018page0018.xhtml