1. In 1846, the Bear Flag Revolt began in Sonoma, California. A group of American settlers, led by John C. Frémont and William B. Ide, declared California an independent republic after the United States declared war on Mexico. The bear flag, which became a symbol of California's struggle for independence, was raised in Sonoma on June 14, 1846.
2. In 1850, California became the 31st state of the United States. It was admitted to the Union as a free state, abolishing slavery within its borders. California's population grew rapidly in the following years, fueled by the Gold Rush of 1849 and the state's booming agricultural industry.
3. In 1922, the first Rose Bowl Game was played in Pasadena, California. The game, which pitted the University of California, Berkeley against the University of Washington, ended in a 0-0 tie. The Rose Bowl has since become an annual New Year's Day tradition, featuring some of the top college football teams in the country.
4. In 1953, the legendary actor and California native, John Wayne, won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "The Quiet Man." Wayne, who was born in Winterset, Iowa, moved to California as a child and went on to star in over 140 films throughout his career.
5. In 2006, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commuted the sentence of convicted killer Esteban Núñez, the son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. The move sparked controversy, as Núñez had been sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in the 2008 fatal stabbing of a college student in San Diego. Schwarzenegger later described the commutation as a "mistake."