Republic of Sonora
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[edit] The Republic of Sonora
On October 16, 1853 with 48 men, filibuster William Walker sailed out from San Francisco on his first filibustering expedition: the conquest of the Mexican territories of Baja California and Sonora. He financed the effort by selling scrip in exchange for promises of land in Sonora. Three weeks later, Walker took control of La Paz, the capital of the sparsely populated Baja California, and 200 more men joined him. Walker declared La Paz the capital of a new Republic of Lower California, with himself as president and a constitution copied from that of Louisiana.
Fearful of attacks by Mexico, Walker moved his position twice over the next three months, first to Cabo San Lucas, and then further north to Ensenada. Here he abolished the "Republic of Lower California", instead pronouncing Baja California part of the larger Republic of Sonora. The declaration of independence from Mexico was written on January 10, 1854. The Republic of Sonora was to consist of the Baja California Peninsula and the state of Sonora. Walker himself was to be president; his partner, Watkins, vice-president; and Emory, secretary of state.
Walker's exploits excited a lot of interest back in San Francisco, where bonds for the Republic of Sonora were sold and its flag was even raised in places. However, Walker was never able to take advantage of his project's popularity. A serious lack of supplies, discontent within his party and an unexpectedly strong resistance by the Mexican government quickly forced Walker to retreat.
Back in California, Walker was put on trial for conducting an illegal war. However, it was the era of Manifest Destiny and consequently his filibustering project was popular in the southern and western United States. The jury took eight minutes to acquit him.
[edit] References
[edit] The Republic of lower Califonia
The Republic of Lower California was established by American filibuster William Walker in the Baja California Peninsula, part of Mexico. The declaration of independence from Mexico was made in December 1853 and abolished on 10 January 1854 when the Republic of Sonora was established.
Established on January 18th 1854 by William Walker, the Republic of Sonora was to be composed of two states. The first, Lower California, was briefly seized from the Mexican government by Walker and his impromptu mercenary band of 45 Californians and some 200 locals-the infamous 'Immortals' at La Paz, on November 3rd 1853. The neighboring Mexican territory of Sonora was envisioned as the second state and was prematurely promoted as such by Walker's personal decree on the 18th of January, 1854. Walker's successive failures to invade and capture Sonora prompted the Mexican government to run him out of Baja California and restore order to the peninsula.
Had Walker succeeded, he would have been president; his partner, Watkins, vice-president; and Emory, secretary of state of the Republic of Sonora (and in the same fashion as the Republic of Texas, merely await annexation by the United States).
Ultimately this failed stint as a filibuster on Mexican soil served as a prototype for Walker's invasion of Nicaragua and the latter failed attempt at conquering Costa Rica.
