who led a small force to overthrow mexican rule in northern california
California Republic In June 1846, thirty-three American immigrants in Alta California rebelled against the Mexican department's[notes 1][2] government. The immigrants had not been allowed to buy or rent land and had been threatened with expulsion from California because they had entered illegally without official permission.[3][4] Mexican officials were concerned about a coming war with the United States coupled with the growing influx of Americans into California. The rebellion was soon overtaken by the beginning of the Mexican–American War.