What reforms did Santa Anna make during his presidency?
Santa Anna's vice president, liberal Dr. Valentín Gómez Farías took over the responsibility of the governing of the nation. Santa Anna retired to his Veracruz hacienda, Manga de Clavo. Gómez Farías began to implement radical liberal reforms, chiefly directed at the power of the army and the Roman Catholic Church.
How many times did Santa Anna lead the Mexican government?
1. Santa Anna headed the Mexican government on 11 occasions. The decades following Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821 were plagued by political dysfunction. Both violent and nonviolent coups were regular occurrences, and the opportunistic Santa Anna took advantage of the instability.
What happened to Santa Anna after he became president?
Final Presidency. Santa Anna went into exile again but was invited back by conservatives in 1853, so he served as president for two more years. He sold some lands along the border to the United States (known as the Gadsden Purchase) in 1854 to help pay some debts.
Was Santa Anna a conservative or a Liberal?
Although Santa Anna was believed to be a supporter of the Scottish Rite conservatives, in the Montaño rebellion he eventually threw his support to the liberals. In his home state of Veracruz, the governor had thrown his support to the rebels, and in the aftermath of the rebellion's failure, Santa Anna as vice-governor stepped into the governorship.
See more
When did Santa Anna switch sides?
Santa Anna was elected president in 1833, winning by a landslide (People). However, Santa Anna's promising talent did not pan out. He constantly switched sides (Lord 63). Between 1833 and 1855, Mexico had at least thirty-six government changes with Santa Anna at the head of at least eleven of them.
What were Santa Anna's political views?
Santa Anna headed the Mexican government on 11 occasions. He constantly changed with the political winds and declared himself at various times to be both conservative and liberal, democrat and dictator. From 1833 to 1835, he served as Mexico's president four times before becoming a military-backed dictator.
Why was Santa Anna removed from power?
Lulled into overconfidence by his initial easy victories, Santa Anna was taken by surprise at San Jacinto, and his army was annihilated on April 21, 1836. The captured Santa Anna, fearing execution, willingly signed an order calling for all Mexican troops to withdraw. Texas became an independent republic.
How did Santa Anna change?
Santa Anna gained much prestige in 1829 when he fought against Spain's attempt to reconquer Mexico, and he became known as the Hero of Tampico. This surge of glory helped him gain the presidency in 1833 as a Federalist and opponent of the Roman Catholic Church; in actuality, however, he established a centralized state.
Was Santa Anna a tyrant?
Antonio López de Santa Anna, president of Mexico, dictator, tyrant, self-styled Napoleon of the West, waged a vicious war against rebellious Texians during the Texas Revolution of 1836. He ordered a take-no-prisoners policy at the Alamo and directed the execution of all Texian soldiers captured at Goliad.
How did conservatives oppose la Reforma?
Conservatives oppose La Reforma by plotting with France to take Mexico. They were against change. Napoleon III of France sent an army, and captured to take Mexico. Although in the end Juarez, a leader of La Reforma drove the French from Mexican soil and killed the emperor who was a European noble.
Why was Santa Anna exiled to Cuba?
From 1855 to 1874, López de Santa Anna lived in exile in Cuba, the United States, Colombia, and Saint Thomas. He had left Mexico because of his unpopularity with the Mexican people after his defeat in 1848 and traveled to and from Cuba, the United States, and Europe.
What is Santa Anna famous quote?
”As general-in-chief I fulfilled my duty by issuing the necessary orders for the vigilance of our camp, as a man I succumbed to an imperious necessity of nature for which I do not believe that a charge can be justly brought against any general, much less if such a rest is taken at the middle of the day, under a tree, ...
Why did Texas leave Mexico?
The most immediate cause of the Texas Revolution was the refusal of many Texas, both Anglo and Mexican, to accept the governmental changes mandated by "Siete Leyes" which placed almost total power in the hands of the Mexican national government and Santa Anna.
How much did Santa Anna Sell Texas for?
The Arizona cities of Tucson and Yuma are on territory acquired by the U.S. in the Gadsden Purchase. The financially strapped government of Santa Anna agreed to the sale, which netted Mexico $10 million (equivalent to $230 million in 2020).
Who became leader of the Mexican government in 1833?
Santa AnnaThe Convention of 1833 was called to order on April 1, 1833, in San Felipe de Austin. By coincidence, on that day Santa Anna was inaugurated as the new President of Mexico. Delegates elected William H. Wharton, a "known hothead", as president of the convention.
Why did Mexico sell land to the US?
Santa Anna refused to sell a large portion of Mexico, but he needed money to fund an army to put down ongoing rebellions, so on December 30, 1853 he and Gadsden signed a treaty stipulating that the United States would pay $15 million for 45,000 square miles south of the New Mexico territory and assume private American ...
What was Santa Anna's reaction to the outcome of the battle of the Alamo?
Determined to punish the rebellious Texans, whom he viewed as pirates who deserved to be executed, Santa Anna mounted a campaign to demonstrate his power by exacting the same kind of retribution upon them that he had visited upon Zacatecas.
How did the events of the Alamo change the outcome of the Texas Revolution?
Legacy of the Alamo The victory ensured the success of Texan independence: Santa Anna, who had been taken prisoner, came to terms with Houston to end the war. In May, Mexican troops in San Antonio were ordered to withdraw, and to demolish the Alamo's fortifications as they went.
What happened during the resistance of 1847 and what was the result?
While US troops were overwhelmingly victorious, it did result in the New Mexico Territory forming with proper representation and recognition for Santa Fe de Nuevo México's citizenry in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo....Taos Revolt.DateJanuary 19–July 9, 1847LocationNorthern New Mexico, United StatesResultAmerican victory
How did Antonio López de Santa Anna come to power?
Antonio López de Santa Anna gained much prestige in 1829 when he fought against Spain’s attempt to reconquer Mexico, and he became known as the Her...
What is Antonio López de Santa Anna most famous for?
In 1836 Antonio López de Santa Anna marched into Texas to quell a rebellion primarily by U.S. settlers there. During this expedition, Texas declare...
What is Antonio López de Santa Anna’s legacy?
Antonio López de Santa Anna possessed a magnetic personality and notable qualities of leadership, but his lack of principles, his pride, and his lo...
Who was Santa Anna?
Santa Anna idolized another 19th-century figure who straddled the military and political sphere s—French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The Mexican general was a devout reader of Napoleonic biographies and an avid collector of Napoleonic artifacts.
What did Santa Anna do to help the United States?
After spending years on Staten Island, Santa Anna returned to Mexico shortly before his death in 1876. 6. Santa Anna helped to introduce chewing gum to the United States. During his forced retirement in Staten Island, Santa Anna imported a chewy, rubber-like substance harvested from Mexican sapodilla trees—chicle.
How many times did Santa Anna serve as president?
Although disgraced after the Texas Revolution, Santa Anna staged a political resurrection and served as president seven more times between 1839 and 1855. 2.
What are some interesting facts about Santa Anna?
Check out six surprising facts about the flamboyant Mexican political and military ruler. 1. Santa Anna headed the Mexican government on 11 occasions. The decades following Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821 were plagued by political dysfunction. Both violent and nonviolent coups were regular occurrences, ...
Where is Santa Anna buried?
Two years after the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, Santa Anna led a makeshift army against French forces who had invaded Veracruz, Mexico, in what has been called the “Pastry War.” After the general was severely wounded by grapeshot fired from a French cannon, doctors were forced to amputate his leg, which Santa Anna buried at his Veracruz hacienda. After he once again assumed the presidency in 1842, Santa Anna exhumed his shriveled leg, paraded it to Mexico City in an ornate coach and buried it beneath a cemetery monument in an elaborate state funeral that included cannon salvos, poetry and lofty orations. Santa Anna’s severed leg did not remain in the ground for long, however. In 1844, public opinion turned on the president, and rioters tore down his statues and dug up his leg. A mob tied the severed appendage to a rope and dragged it through the streets of Mexico City while shouting, “Death to the cripple!”
What happened to Santa Anna's leg?
In 1844, public opinion turned on the president, and rioters tore down his statues and dug up his leg. A mob tied the severed appendage to a rope and dragged it through the streets of Mexico City while shouting, “Death to the cripple!” . 4.
What was Santa Anna's prosthetic leg?
During the 1847 Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican-American War, the 4th Illinois Infantry surprised Santa Anna, who fled without something quite important—his prosthetic cork and wooden leg.
Early Life
Santa Anna was born in Xalapa on February 21, 1794. His parents were Antonio Lafey de Santa Anna and Manuela Perez de Labron and he had a comfortable middle-class childhood. After some limited formal education, he worked for a short time as a merchant.
Early Military Career
Santa Anna quickly rose through the ranks, making colonel by the age of 26. He fought on the Spanish side in the Mexican War of Independence. When he recognized that it was a lost cause, he switched sides in 1821 with Agustín de Iturbide, who rewarded him with a promotion to general.
First Presidency
In 1829, Spain invaded, attempting to retake Mexico. Santa Anna played a key role in defeating them—his greatest (and perhaps only) military victory. Santa Anna first rose to the presidency in the 1833 election.
Texas Independence
Texas, using the chaos in Mexico as a pretext, declared independence in 1836. Santa Anna himself marched on the rebellious state with a massive army, but the invasion was conducted poorly. Santa Anna ordered crops burned, prisoners shot, and livestock killed, alienating many Texans who might have supported him.
The Pastry War and Return to Power
Santa Anna returned to Mexico in disgrace and retired to his hacienda. Soon there came another opportunity to seize the stage. In 1838, France invaded Mexico in order to make them pay some outstanding debts. This conflict is known as the Pastry War . Santa Anna rounded up some men and rushed to battle.
War With the United States
In the early 1840s, Santa Anna was in and out of power frequently. He was inept enough to be regularly driven out of power but charming enough to always find his way back in.
Final Presidency
Santa Anna went into exile again but was invited back by conservatives in 1853, so he served as president for two more years. He sold some lands along the border to the United States (known as the Gadsden Purchase) in 1854 to help pay some debts. This infuriated many Mexicans, who turned on him once again.
What did Santa Anna do?
In 1828 he backed Vicente Guerrero for president, only to help depose him later. Santa Anna gained much prestige in 1829 when he fought against Spain’s attempt ...
Why did Santa Anna seek U.S. support?
Ten years later he sought U.S. support in an attempt to oust the emperor Maximilian, whom the French had placed on the Mexican throne; at the same time, he offered his services to Maximilian. Both proposals were refused. Two years before he died, poor and blind, Santa Anna was allowed to return to his country.
Why did Santa Anna march into Texas?
In 1836 Santa Anna marched into Texas to quell a rebellion primarily by U.S. settlers there. During this expedition, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. His army defeated Texan forces at the Alamo and Goliad before moving eastward to the San Jacinto River, where he was defeated and captured by Gen. Sam Houston.
Who was the leader of the Mexican forces in 1847?
Santa Anna took charge of the Mexican forces upon his return; but instead of acting for peace, he led his men against the United States until he was routed by U.S. forces under Gen. Winfield Scott. Santa Anna again retired, moving to Jamaica in 1847 and to New Granada in 1853.
Who captured Santa Anna?
After his army had defeated Texan forces at the Alamo and Goliad, Santa Anna then moved eastward to the San Jacinto River, where he was defeated on April 21 in the Battle of San Jacinto and was captured by Gen. Sam Houston.
Who was the leader of the Spanish army in 1821?
Antonio López de Santa Anna. The son of a minor colonial official, Santa Anna served in the Spanish army and rose to the rank of captain. He fought on both sides of nearly every issue of the day. In 1821 he supported Agustín de Iturbide and the war for Mexican independence, but in 1823 he helped overthrow Iturbide.
Which states were involved in the Santa Anna revolt?
Much of Mexico led by the states of Yucatan, Zacatecas, and Coahuila, promptly rose in revolt of Santa Anna's actions. Santa Anna spent two years suppressing the revolts. Under the Liberal banner, the Mexican state of Zacatecas revolted against Santa Anna. The revolt was brutally crushed in May 1835.
Who was Santa Anna?
Santa Anna ( full name Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón)won the election of 1833 as a liberal with the largest majority in history .The vice presidency went to Valentin Gomez Farias, a liberal politician of intellectual distinction .Santa Anna chased after the presidency for at least a decade, but once he had it he soon wearied of it left the day to day running of the country to his vice president while he retired to his estate of Manga de Clavo in Vera Cruz .He was President of Mexico on eleven non-consecutive ( 1833 multiple times ,1834, 1835 ,1839 ,1841 - 1842 ,1843 - 1844 and 1847 ) occasions over a period of 22 years.
How long did Santa Anna's army take to defeat Zacatecas?
Santa Anna allowed his army to ransack Zacatecas for forty-eight hours. After defeating Zacatecas, he planned to move on to Coahuila y Tejas.
What were the major grievances against Mexico by the Texans?
One of the major grievances against Mexico by the Texans was that it was an appendage to the state of Coahuila . There were eventually given 3 representatives in the state legislature ( out of 12 ) buy were easily outvoted by Coahuilans on important matters . Appellate courts were located in faraway Saltillo .The Americans wanted Texas to be a separate state from Coahuila , but not independent from Mexico and to have its own capital. They believed a closer location for the capital would help to stem corruption and facilitate other matters of government.
What did the Mexicans do to the New Orleans colony?
The Mexicans did nothing to protect or govern the colony. The settlers created a code of laws for the administration of justice and the settlement of civil disputes. The land titles were duly recorded, and a local militia was organized. Austin was the supreme authority, the judge and commandant .In 1827, New Orleans was abuzz with talk of the leagues of land that Mexico was giving to those who would colonize in Texas. By 1827 there were 12,000 Americans living in Texas. By 1835 there were 30,000 Americans and only around 8,000 Mexicans .
Why did Santa Anna want to colonize Texas?
Santa Anna believed that the influx of American immigrants to Texas was part of a plot by the U.S. to take over the region. and the Mexican garrisons were strengthened .Mexico increased custom duties on exports, increasing the cost of trade with the US . Mexican colonization of Texas was encouraged .
How many times did Santa Anna change her presidency?
The presidency changed hands 36 times between 1833 and 1855 . The army grew larger at this time to a standing army of 90,000 and even though the country suffered under excessive taxation, the treasury was still bankrupt .Corruption was widespread. Santa Anna became a millionaire .
Why did Santa Anna defend San Antonio?
However, some historians have speculated that Santa Anna was bent on avenging Cos’s earlier humiliation in San Antonio. Goliad and San Antonio each were located on one of the two main roads joining Mexico with Texas, and defending them was necessary to slow the Mexican advance on the other Texian settlements.
Why was Santa Anna so slow to respond to the attack?
According to legend, Santa Anna was slow to respond to the attack because he was engaged in a sexual liaison with a woman who reputedly inspired the classic song “ The Yellow Rose of Texas,” though it is likely that the romantic assignation was apocryphal and that song had other origins.
What did Santa Anna do to punish the rebellious Texans?
Determined to punish the rebellious Texans, whom he viewed as pirates who deserved to be executed, Santa Anna mounted a campaign to demonstrate his power by exacting the same kind of retribution upon them that he had visited upon Zacatecas. In command of an army that would eventually grow ...
Who led the Mexicans in the Battle of Santa Anna?
During Santa Anna’s movement against San Antonio, a smaller Mexican force commanded by Gen. José de Urrea was advancing north from Matamoros. Col. James W. Fannin had planned, but then aborted, an action against Matamoros, and a large number of Texans remained under his command in Goliad. At the end of February and the beginning of March, other elements of the Texan forces met with defeat in encounters with the Mexicans at San Patricio (February 27) and Agua Dulce Creek (March 2). By the second week of March, Houston had rescinded an order for Fannin to reinforce the Alamo and directed him to consolidate his troops in Victoria. Awaiting the return of a contingent he had earlier dispatched to Refugio and another sent to rescue them, Fannin delayed the move to Victoria. Having taken the measure of those contingents in the Battle of Refugio (March 12–15), Urrea set his sights on Goliad, which Fannin abandoned on the morning of March 19. By that afternoon Urrea’s forces had overtaken and surrounded Fannin’s column in open country. The Battle of Coleto ended the next day with Fannin’s surrender. Urrea took his prisoners to Goliad, where he received an order from Santa Anna to execute them. On March 27 some 400 men in Fannin’s command were put to death in the Goliad Massacre.
How long did it take for the Houston army to defeat Santa Anna?
On the afternoon of April 21, Houston’s force of about 900 men surprised and overwhelmed Santa Anna’s resting army of some 1,200 to 1,300. The Battle of San Jacinto was over in only 18 minutes amid vengeful cries of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!”. According to legend, Santa Anna was slow to respond to the attack because he was engaged ...
Who commanded the Texas army during the Battle of San Antonio?
A force of about 150 men and some 20 cannons awaited the Mexican advance, with the troops of the regular Texas army commanded by Col. William B. Travis while Col. James Bowie commanded the biggest contingent of the defenders, the militia. Because many of the Texian participants in the early engagements of the war had returned to their homes, a large portion of the defenders of both Goliad and San Antonio was made up of recently arrived volunteers from the United States, who had come in pursuit of adventure, in the hope of acquiring land, or out of a devotion to the era’s revolutionary élan (that was the time of the Revolutions of 1830 in Europe). Among those drawn to the Alamo was legendary frontiersman and onetime Tennessee congressman Davy Crockett. The Alamo defenders’ hope for reinforcements was dramatically reflected in the letter requesting support from Texans and Americans that Travis sent into the world; however, only about 30 additional troops would arrive before the battle. (Estimates of the actual number of Alamo’s defenders vary, usually falling in the range of 183 to 189, though some historians believe the figure may have been larger.) Santa Anna’s forces began arriving at the Alamo on February 23, and the Mexican siege and bombardment lasted until the Mexican attack on March 6, in which all of the Alamo’s defenders perished (a few noncombatant women, children, and slaves survived and were allowed to leave).
When did Santa Anna attack the Alamo?
Santa Anna’s forces began arriving at the Alamo on February 23, and the Mexican siege and bombardment lasted until the Mexican attack on March 6, in which all of the Alamo’s defenders perished (a few noncombatant women, children, and slaves survived and were allowed to leave). Alamo, San Antonio, Texas.
Who persuaded Santa Anna to dissolve Congress and the state legislatures?
Now the stage was set for a reactionary movement led by those two influential forces. So in May 1834, the army and clergy persuaded Santa Anna to dissolve both Congress and the state legislatures and declare himself a dictator (Binkley 41). After all Santa Anna was a vain man who liked applause.
How did Santa Anna start the Texas Revolution?
In a sense Santa Anna started the Texas Revolution by repealing the Mexican Constitution of 1824. In general the Constitution gave considerable rights to the individual Mexican states. It was based on "a federal government of sovereign states" (Wood). Under this constitution, American settlers in Texas were exempt from any taxes, tariffs, ...
What did Fannin do when Santa Anna came to Goliad?
Then when Santa Anna came to Goliad, Fannin packed up, and he and his men retreated east toward the US boarder. They remembered everything except food.
Where did the Texas Revolution take place?
The Texas revolution had started. The Texans followed the Mexicans to San Antonio and the Alamo where the Texans forced General Cos to surrender and leave Texas. Texas now was in control of the Alamo (Lord 56). The Alamo was an old Spanish mission in San Antonio in central Texas.
How many times did the Mexican presidency change hands?
Between 1833 and 1855 the Mexican presidency changed hands at least thirty-six times, and Antonio López de Santa Anna ruled eleven of those time (People).
What happened in Texas in 1835?
Santa Anna and the Texas Revolution. On September 29, 1835, a detachment of the Mexican army arrived in Go nzales, Texas , a Mexican state, to confiscate a cannon . The cannon was well hidden, but eighteen armed men stood in plain sight. They taunted the Mexicans to "come and take it.".
When did Santa Anna attack the Alamo?
At this time when Santa Anna marched into Texas in February 1836 , he attacked the Alamo. On March 6, 1836 the Alamo fell after a thirteen day siege causing every man in the fort to be either killed or wounded (Wood).
What happened to Santa Anna?
Deposed during his captivity with the Texan rebels, Santa Anna returned to Mexico a powerless man. During the next two decades, however, the highly unstable political situation in Mexico provided him with several opportunities to regain-and again lose-his dictatorial power.
What did Santa Anna do as a teenager?
However, the young Santa Anna quickly distinguished himself as a capable fighter and leader , and after 1821, he gained national prominence in the successful Mexican war for independence from Spain. ...
How many times did Santa Anna become the head of the Mexican government?
All told, he became the head of the Mexican government 11 times. Overthrown for the last time in 1855, he spent the remaining two decades of his life scheming with elements in Mexico, the United States and France to stage a comeback. Although he was clearly a brilliant political opportunist, Santa Anna was ultimately loyal only to himself ...
When was Santa Anna captured?
Lulled into overconfidence by his initial easy victories, Santa Anna was taken by surprise at San Jacinto, and his army was annihilated on April 21, 1836. The captured Santa Anna, fearing execution, willingly signed an order calling for all Mexican troops to withdraw. Texas became an independent republic.
What was the impact of Santa Anna's overthrow of Mexico?
Some viewed Santa Anna’s overthrow of the Mexican Republic as an opportunity to break away and form an independent Republic of Texas that might one day become an American state.
Where did Santa Anna die?
General Santa Anna dies in Mexico City. Embittered and impoverished, the once mighty Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna dies in Mexico City. Born in 1792 at Jalapa, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Santa Anna was the son of middle-class parents.
Who was the leader of the Mexican army that defeated the Texas rebels?
Determined to crush the Texas rebels, Santa Anna took command of the Mexican army that invaded Texas in 1836. His forces successfully defeated the Texas rebels at the Alamo, and he personally ordered the execution of 400 Texan prisoners after the Battle of Goliad.
Overview
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , usually known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, was a Mexican politician and general. His influence on post-independence Mexican politics and government in the first half of the nineteenth century is such that historians of Mexico often refer to it as the "Age of Santa Anna". He has been called "the M…
Early life
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Nueva España (New Spain), on 21 February 1794 into a respected Spanish family. He was named after his father, Licenciado Antonio López de Santa Anna (born 1761), a university graduate and a lawyer; his mother was Manuela Pérez de Lebrón (died 1814). The family belonged to the racially elite criollo group of American-born Spaniards, although the family was n…
Career
López de Santa Anna's origins on the East Coast of Mexico had important ramifications for his military career, because he developed immunity from yellow fever, endemic to the region. The port of Veracruz and environs were known to be unhealthy for those not native to the region so he had a personal strategic advantage against military forces from elsewhere. Being a military officer in a ti…
Personal life
López de Santa Anna married twice, both times to wealthy young women. At neither wedding ceremony did he appear, legally empowering his future father-in-law to serve as a proxy at his first wedding and a friend at his second. One assessment of the two marriages is that they were arranged marriages of convenience, bringing considerable wealth to López de Santa Anna and that h…
Later years and death
From 1855 to 1874, López de Santa Anna lived in exile in Cuba, the United States, Colombia, and Saint Thomas. He had left Mexico because of his unpopularity with the Mexican people after his defeat in 1848 and traveled to and from Cuba, the United States, and Europe. He participated in gambling and businesses with the hopes that he would become rich. During his many years i…
Legacy
He was highly controversial at the time and ever since. In the 2007 biography by Will Fowler, Santa Ana was depicted as, “a liberal a Republican, and army man, a hero, a revolutionary, a regional strongman, but never a politician. He presented himself as a mediator who was both anti-party and anti-politics in the decades when the new country of Mexico was wracked by factional infighting. He was always more willing to lead an army than to lead his country”
In popular culture
• He is repeatedly mentioned in the John Wayne film The Alamo
• In the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro, Santa Anna is mentioned and is portrayed by Joaquim de Almeida in a deleted scene.
• Fox animated series King of the Hill season 2 episode 18 The Final Shinsult largely revolves around Santa Anna's prosthetic leg.
See also
• History of democracy in Mexico
• List of heads of state of Mexico
Early Life
Early Military Career
- Santa Anna quickly rose through the ranks, making colonel by the age of 26. He fought on the Spanish side in the Mexican War of Independence. When he recognized that it was a lost cause, he switched sides in 1821 with Agustín de Iturbide, who rewarded him with a promotion to general. During the turbulent 1820s, Santa Anna supported and then turned ...
First Presidency
- In 1829, Spain invaded, attempting to retake Mexico. Santa Anna played a key role in defeating them—his greatest (and perhaps only) military victory. Santa Anna first rose to the presidency in the 1833 election. Ever the astute politician, he immediately turned over power to Vice President Valentín Gómez Farías and allowed him to make some reforms, including many aimed at the Ca…
Texas Independence
- Texas, using the chaos in Mexico as a pretext, declared independence in 1836. Santa Anna himself marched on the rebellious state with a massive army, but the invasion was conducted poorly. Santa Anna ordered crops burned, prisoners shot, and livestock killed, alienating many Texans who might have supported him. After he defeated the rebels at the Battle of the Alamo, …
The Pastry War and Return to Power
- Santa Anna returned to Mexico in disgrace and retired to his hacienda. Soon there came another opportunity to seize the stage. In 1838, France invaded Mexico in order to make them pay some outstanding debts. This conflict is known as the Pastry War. Santa Anna rounded up some men and rushed to battle. Although he and his men were soundly defeated and he lost one of his leg…
War with The United States
- In the early 1840s, Santa Anna was in and out of power frequently. He was inept enough to be regularly driven out of power but charming enough to always find his way back in. In 1846, war broke out between Mexico and the United States. Santa Anna, in exile at the time, persuaded the Americans to allow him back into Mexico to negotiate a peace. Once there, he assumed comma…
Final Presidency
- Santa Anna went into exile again but was invited back by conservatives in 1853, so he served as president for two more years. He sold some lands along the border to the United States (known as the Gadsden Purchase) in 1854 to help pay some debts. This infuriated many Mexicans, who turned on him once again. Santa Anna was driven from power for good in 1855 and went once a…
Schemes and Plots
- For the next decade or so, Santa Anna schemed at getting back into power. He attempted to hatch an invasion with mercenaries. He negotiated with the French and Emperor Maximilian in a bid to come back and join Maximilian's court but was arrested and sent back into exile. During this time he lived in different countries, including the United States, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, a…
Death
- Santa Anna finally was given an amnesty in 1874 and returned to Mexico. He was then about 80 years old and had given up any hope of returning to power. He died on June 21, 1876, in Mexico City.
Legacy
- Santa Anna was a larger-than-life character and inept dictator. He was officially president six times, and unofficially five more. His personal charisma was astounding, on a par with other Latin American leaders such as Fidel Castro or Juan Domingo Perón. The people of Mexico supported him multiple times, but he kept letting them down, losing wars and lining his own pockets with pu…