Californian Rebellion



The Californian Rebellion (Spanish: Californiana Rebelión) also known in California as the Second Californian War (Spanish: Segunda Californiana Guerra), was an armed revolt by Californios in the Territory of California against the United States government from 1862 to 1863. The rebels sought to reestablish the Republic of California, which was annexed by the United States in the Californian-American War less than ten years earlier. The revolt occurred during the Secession Crisis just prior to the American Civil War when the federal government was overwhelmed. The initial Californio revolt was successful before Army reinforcements arrived from Eureka and fought the rebels into an attritional stalemate. This continued until the newly inaugurated President, Abraham Lincoln pushed for a successful peace conference at Monterey Bay.

Following the annexation of the Republic of California in 1855, the United States discriminated against the Californio population, intending to encourage settlement and development around the Gran Lago. Several policies by the territory government stoked tensions in California. After the war, American settlers seized existing plantations around the lake, driving off their owners which was deeply unpopular. In addition the authorities sought to suppress the usage of Spanish among Californios, especially with children. This forced assimilation further drove ethic tensions, cumlimating in several riots in the 1860s. Manuel Ortez, the former Vice-President of the Republic of California, was the head of the growing nationalist movement.

The situation grew significantly worse under President Joseph Lane, who further aggravated tensions by attempting to expand slavery to California and ordering harsh crackdowns in response to increasing unrest. A confrontation between Californio nationalists and federal troops who were attempting to arrest Manuel Ortez in San Gabriel on September 9th 1863, resulted in a riot and the deaths of three Californios and two federal soldiers. Unrest quickly spread around the shores of the Gran Lago, and a full scale armed uprising began in late September. The federal response was hampered by the political fallout from the congressional elections that November which saw the National Union gain a majority in Congress. Most of the response fell to the state of Eureka and the U.S. Army forces stationed on the West Coast. Further response has hampered by the deteriorating political situation in Washington and secessionist tensions in Eureka.

By November thousands of Californio rebels rose up in across Central California, and defeated the local garrisons sent to quell the rebellion. By December they controlled Los Angeles, San Diego, and all of the Gran Lago. By then the territorial administration, plantation owners, and the recently arrived slave owners had all fled, achieving the immediate goals of the revolt. However Army forces arrived by December, commanded by George Wright and accompanied by Eurekian militia. For four and a half months, the rebels and the United States government fought each other to a draw; while Wright's forces had superior firepower, they suffered from poor supply and an inability to adapt well to guerilla warfare. However the rebels were unable to hold onto most of their gained territory and were forced to withdraw from the major settlement. In March 1863, Abraham Lincoln assumed the Presidency after the removal of Joseph Lane. With the American Civil War on the horizon, Lincoln sought to achieve a peace agreement with the rebels by offering some concessions. A ceasefire was declared May 1st to allow for negotiations in San Gabirel. A formal treaty was signed on June 19th, which established the Department of California and granted significant autonomy and self rule.