California Republic

The California Republic, commonly referred to as California or the Republic, was a country consisting of 10 states existing from 1848 to 1858. It originally constituted a part of, territory under the control of Mexico, which had gained the land from following its  in 1821.

The Republic was declared on June 14, 1846 during the outbreak of the Mexican-American War when several American and citizens seized government property in  and established the  as its headquarters. With the assistance of the Americans and Texans, California gained its independence officially through the on February 2, 1848 after Mexico formally surrendered. The Republic lasted for a mere decade, riddled with corruption, debt, and lack of enforcement, coupled with poor resources, infrastructure, and organization. The Californian Congress established a constitutional convention in 1857, responding to public demand for a stronger, more competent government. In 1858, the Constitution of 1858 was drafted, ratified, and promulgated, thereby establishing the Kingdom of Sierra and ending the Republic.

Attempts to reestablish the Republic were nearly realized during the Sierran Civil War as the "Second California Republic", but were ultimately defeated. In contemporary times, the Republic has been viewed as an experimental and critical stage in Sierran history as its people enjoyed independence and freedom, and managed to avoid becoming absorbed into the United States.