The California Republic flag, also known as the Bear Flag, was first flown in 1846 during the Bear Flag Revolt, when American settlers in California declared independence from Mexico. The flag features a star, a grizzly bear, and the words "California Republic." Although the short-lived republic ended when the U.S. took control of California, the flag became a symbol of Californian identity and was later adopted as the state's official flag in 1911.