All Topics  
Antonio López de Santa Anna

 
Antonio López De Santa Anna

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Antonio López de Santa Anna
 
 
  Topics Antonio López de Santa Anna Topic Home

Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (21 February 1794 – 21 June 1876), often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, was a Mexican
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
 political leader who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics
Politics

Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. The term is generally applied to behaviour within civil governments, but politics has been observed in all human group interactions, including corporation, academia, and religion institutions....
 and government
Government

Government is the body within any organization that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws, regulations, or rules. Typically, the government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national -- but commercial, academic, religious, or other formal organizations are also administered by governing bodies....
, first fighting against the independence
Mexican War of Independence

Mexican War of Independence , was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and Spanish colonial authorities, which started on 16 September 1810....
 from Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
, and then supporting it, rising to the ranks of general
General

A General officer is an Officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is just called general....
 and president
President

President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, company, trade unions, university, and country. Etymology, a "president" is one who Wiktionary:Preside, who sits in leadership ....
 at various times over a turbulent 40-year career.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Antonio López de Santa Anna'
Start a new discussion about 'Antonio López de Santa Anna'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (21 February 1794 – 21 June 1876), often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, was a Mexican
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
 political leader who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics
Politics

Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. The term is generally applied to behaviour within civil governments, but politics has been observed in all human group interactions, including corporation, academia, and religion institutions....
 and government
Government

Government is the body within any organization that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws, regulations, or rules. Typically, the government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national -- but commercial, academic, religious, or other formal organizations are also administered by governing bodies....
, first fighting against the independence
Mexican War of Independence

Mexican War of Independence , was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and Spanish colonial authorities, which started on 16 September 1810....
 from Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
, and then supporting it, rising to the ranks of general
General

A General officer is an Officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is just called general....
 and president
President

President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, company, trade unions, university, and country. Etymology, a "president" is one who Wiktionary:Preside, who sits in leadership ....
 at various times over a turbulent 40-year career. He was President of Mexico on eleven non-consecutive occasions over a period of 22 years.

Early years

Santa Anna was born in Xalapa
Xalapa

Xalapa de Enr?quez, commonly Xalapa or Jalapa is the capital city of the Mexico States of Mexico of Veracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality....
, Veracruz
Veracruz

Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is one of the 31 states of Mexico that constitute the republic of Mexico....
, Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
, on February 21, 1794; he was the son of a respected Spanish
Spanish people

Spanish people or Spaniards are a nation or ethnic group native to Spain, in the Iberian Peninsula of southwestern Europe. They are often considered an amalgam of different ethnic groups, rather than an ethnic group by itself....
 colonial family, Antonio López de Santa Anna and Manuela Pérez de Lebrón, who belonged to the criollo
Criollo (people)

Criollo is a term that dates back to the Spanish colonization of the Americas casta system of Latin America. It referred to a person born in the Spanish colonies deemed to have limpieza de sangre in respect of an individual's purity of European ancestry....
 middle class, and wealthy enough to send their son to school. His father served for a time as a sub-delegate for the Spanish province of Veracruz, Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
 for the Royal Army. After Santa Anna made it clear that he had no interest in studying and going to school, the young Santa Anna started working for a merchant of Mexico. In June 1810, he was sent to the Fijo de Vera Cruz infantry regiment under the command of Joaquín de Arredondo. Santa Anna spent the next years battling insurgents and policing the Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas

The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Americas, their descendants, and many ethnic groups who identify with those peoples....
 tribes of the internal provinces (political divisions of Mexico). Like most criollo officers in the Royalist army, he remained loyal to Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
, and for a number of years and fought against the movement for Mexican independence
Mexican War of Independence

Mexican War of Independence , was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and Spanish colonial authorities, which started on 16 September 1810....
. He was only at the age of sixteen when he became a cadet.

Military career


In 1810, the same year that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla started Mexico’s first attempt to gain independence from Spain, Santa Anna joined the colonial Spanish Army under Joaquín de Arredondo, who taught him much about dealing with Mexican nationalist rebels.After being disappointed by not being able to capture him, the unit stayed in northern Mexico for a campaign against northern Native American tribes and in 1811, Santa Anna was wounded in the arm by a Chichimec arrow during the campaign. Brutality against the Native Americans and risk-taking characterized Santa Anna’s military tactics throughout his career. In 1813, he served in Texas
Texas

Texas is a U.S. state located in the South Central United States, nicknamed the Lone Star State. Texas is the second largest U.S. state in both area and population, spanning , and with a growing population of 24.3 million residents....
 against the Gutiérrez/Magee Expedition
Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition

The Guti?rrez-Magee Expedition was an 1812-13 joint Mexico-USA Filibuster expedition against Spanish Texas during the early years of the Mexican War of Independence....
, and at the Battle of Medina
Battle of Medina

The Battle of Medina was fought approximately 20 miles south of San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as part of the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish Empire authority in Mexico....
, in which he was cited for bravery. He was promoted quickly. He became the second lieutenant in February, 1812, and the first lieutenant before the end of that year. In the aftermath of the rebellion the young officer witnessed Arredondo's fierce counter-insurgency policy of mass executions, and historians have speculated that Santa Anna modeled his policy and conduct in the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution

The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was fought from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836 between Mexico and the Mexican Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas....
 on his experience under Arredondo.

During the next few years, in which the war for independence reached a stalemate, Santa Anna erected villages for displaced citizens near Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz

The city of Veracruz is a major port city and municipalities of Mexico on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexico States of Mexico of Veracruz. The metropolitan areas of Mexico is Mexico's largest on the Gulf coast and an important east coast port....
. He also pursued gambling
Gambling

Gambling is the wikt:wager#Verb of money or something of material Value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods....
, a vice that would follow him all through his life.

He was promoted to captain in 1816. His job consisted mainly of occasional campaigns to suppress Native Americans or to restore order after a tumult had begun. Mexico reached Oregon in the north and Panama in the south. It was a territory too vast for the Spanish Crown to control. In 1821, Santa Anna declared his loyalty for "El Libertador": the future Emperor of Mexico, Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide

Agust?n de Iturbide was born into a noble family in Valladolid, New Spain . He was commissioned into the colonial army when still in his teens....
. He rose to prominence by quickly driving the Spanish forces out of the vital port city of Veracruz that same year. Iturbide rewarded him with the rank of general. Santa Anna, with his important rank exploited his situation for personal gain. He acquired a large hacienda and at the same time continued his gambling. Santa Anna was never really obedient to Iturbide, who was never popular needed the military to maintain his power. In December 1822 Santa Anna defected to the republican cause, and on March 1823 Iturbide abdicated. Santa Anna was among the military leaders who supported the Plan de Casa Mata to overthrow Iturbide and declare Mexico a Republic
Republic

A republic is a state or country that is not led by a hereditary monarch but in which the people have an impact on its government. The word originates from the Latin term res publica....
. Later, Santa Anna would play important roles in replacing presidents Manuel Gómez Pedraza
Manuel Gómez Pedraza

Manuel G?mez Pedraza was a Mexico general and president of the country from 1832 to 1833.Born into the upper middle class, G?mez Pedraza was a student at the time of the Grito de Dolores by Miguel Hidalgo in 1810....
 and Vicente Guerrero
Vicente Guerrero

Vicente Ram?n Guerrero Salda?a was one of the leading revolutionary generals of the Mexican War of Independence, who fought against Spain for independence in the early 19th century, and served briefly as President of Mexico....
. By 1824, Guerrero sent Santa Anna to be the governor
Governor

A governor is a governing official, usually the Executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state. In federations, a governor may be the title of each appointed or elected politician who governs a constitutive state....
 of the state
States of Mexico

The Mexico are a federation made up of thirty-one "free and sovereign states". These states constitute one federated State or Union. The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over the Mexico City, a territory which does not belong to any state but to all, as well as the islands, atolls and reefs that do not belong to any stat...
 of Yucatán
Yucatán

Yucat?n is one of the States of Mexico of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucat?n Peninsula. The Yucatan peninsula includes three states: Yucat?n, Campeche, and Quintana Roo; all three modern states were formerly part of the larger historic state of Yucat?n in the 19th century....
. His help in defeating Iturbide gave others a reason to trust him, even though he was known as a fickle character. On his own initiative, Santa Anna prepared to invade Cuba
Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is a country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba , the island of Isla de la Juventud, and several adjacent small islands....
, which remained under Spanish rule, but he possessed neither the funds nor sufficient support for such a venture.

In 1829, Spain made its final attempt to retake Mexico in Tampico
Tampico

Tampico, located at , is the main city in the Mexico States of Mexico of Tamaulipas, and is the Mexican Gulf of Mexico's main economic powerhouse....
 with an invading force of 2,600 soldiers. Santa Anna marched against the Barradas Expedition
Isidro Barradas

Isidro Barradas was a Spanish general sent to Mexico in 1829, eight years after Mexican independence, to try to reconquer the country for the Spanish Crown....
 with a much smaller force and defeated the Spaniards, many of whom were suffering from yellow fever
Yellow fever

Yellow fever is an acute Virus disease. It is an important cause of hemorrhage illness in many African and South American countries despite existence of an effective vaccine....
. The defeat of the Spanish army not only increased Santa Anna’s popularity but also consolidated the independence of the new Mexican republic. Santa Anna was declared a hero
Hero

A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, the offspring of a mortal and a deity,their Greek hero cult being one of the most distinctive features of Religion in ancient Greece....
, and from then on he styled himself "The Victor of Tampico" and "The Savior of the Motherland". His main act of self-promotion was to call himself "The Napoleon of the West".

Politics

Santa Anna’s normal loyalty would be to ally with the wealthy and privileged, but his immediate concern was to be on the winning side in any battle. Switching allegiance never troubled him. Santa Anna declared himself retired, "unless my country needs me". He decided he was needed when Anastasio Bustamante
Anastasio Bustamante

Anastasio Bustamante y Oseguera was president of Mexico three times, from 1830 to 1832, from 1837 to 1839 and from 1839 to 1841. He was a Conservatism....
 led a coup, overthrowing and killing President
President of Mexico

The Constitutional Citizen President of the United Mexican States is the head of state of Mexico. Under the 1917 Constitution of Mexico, the president is also the head of government and the Commander-in-chief of the Mexican Military of Mexico....
 Vicente Guerrero
Vicente Guerrero

Vicente Ram?n Guerrero Salda?a was one of the leading revolutionary generals of the Mexican War of Independence, who fought against Spain for independence in the early 19th century, and served briefly as President of Mexico....
. Santa Anna was elected president in 1833.

Valentín Gómez Farías
Valentín Gómez Farías

Valent?n G?mez Far?as was several times acting President of Mexico Mexico in the 1830s and 1840s.The first presidency of Santa Anna from 1833 to 1836 was a temporary victory for the Mexican Liberals....
 did many reforms, introducing antimilitary and anticlergical reforms. He reduced the size of the army and worked hard to root out corruption in the military. He also changed some rules reflecting the power of the Church. Clergymen would be allowed to preach only for religious matters. He altered the education as a fully secular system. The mandatory tax for the support of the Church was abolished. These drastic reforms angered many of the powerful among the military, wealthy landowners, and the Catholic Church. When there was rebellion and violence against the reform that Farias had made, Santa Anna changed his side, again. Santa Anna reversed his support for the liberals and joined the conservatives, dismissed Farías, declared the Constitution suspended, disbanded the Congress, and worked to concentrate power in the central government. This was applauded by some conservatives, but met with considerable disapproval from other sectors. He established a Catholic, centralist dictatorship and replaced the Constitution of 1824(the one that Farias established), with a new document, called “The Seven Laws.” – the Constitution of 1836. The regime was a centralized dictatorship led by the military.

Several states went into open rebellion: Coahuila y Tejas
Coahuila y Tejas

Coahuila y Tejas was one of the constituentState s of the newly established Mexico under its 1824 Constitution of Mexico.During its short life, it had two capitals: first Saltillo, and then Monclova ....
, San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí

The Mexico state of San Luis Potos? has an area of .It is in the north-central part of the Mexican republic, It borders Coahuila to the north, Nuevo Leon to the north-east, Tamaulipas to the east, Veracruz to the east, Hidalgo, Queretaro, and Guanajuato to the south,and Zacatecas to the north-west....
, Querétaro
Querétaro

Quer?taro is a state in the center of M?xico.Its capital is the city of Santiago de Quer?taro, although in general parlance the name "Quer?taro" is used for both the city and the state....
, Durango
Durango

Durango is one of the constituent states of Mexico. Its population is 1,509,118. It has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja California Sur....
, Guanajuato
Guanajuato

Guanajuato is a state in the central highlands of Mexico. It is named after its capital city, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, which comes from the local indigenous P'urh?pecha language, meaning "Hill of Frogs"....
, Michoacán
Michoacán

Michoac?n formally Michoac?n de Ocampo , is one of the 31 constituent States of Mexico of Mexico. It borders the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west, Guanajuato and Quer?taro to the north, Mexico to the east, Guerrero to the south-east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south....
, Yucatán
Yucatán

Yucat?n is one of the States of Mexico of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucat?n Peninsula. The Yucatan peninsula includes three states: Yucat?n, Campeche, and Quintana Roo; all three modern states were formerly part of the larger historic state of Yucat?n in the 19th century....
, Jalisco
Jalisco

Jalisco is a Mexican state in Mexico. The capital of Jalisco is the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. In the 2005 census, Jalisco had a population of 6,752,113 people....
, Nuevo León
Nuevo León

Nuevo Le?n is a States of Mexico located in northeastern Mexico. It borders the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east and San Luis Potos? to the south, and Coahuila to the west....
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas is one of the 31 States of Mexico of Mexico and is located in the northeast....
 and Zacatecas
Zacatecas

Zacatecas States of Mexico of Mexico is located in the north-central region and it is bounded to the northwest by Durango, to the north by Coahuila, to the east by San Luis Potos?, to the south by Aguascalientes and Guanajuato and to the southwest by Jalisco and Nayarit....
. Several of these states formed their own governments, the Republic of the Rio Grande
Republic of the Rio Grande

The Republic of the Rio Grande existed briefly in North America between the Republic of Texas and Mexico, from January 17 to November 6 1840....
, the Republic of Yucatan
Republic of Yucatán

The Republic of Yucat?n was a separate republic that existed briefly on Mexico's Yucat?n Peninsula during the 1840s....
, and the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas was a sovereignty nation in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the nation claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S....
. Only the Texans defeated Santa Anna and retained their independence. They and their allies from the United States declared independence from Mexico. Their fierce resistance was possibly fueled by reprisals Santa Anna committed against his defeated enemies.

The Zacatecan militia
Militia

The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service....
, the largest and best supplied of the Mexican states, led by Francisco Garcia, was well armed with .753 caliber British 'Brown Bess
Brown Bess

Brown Bess is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire and acquired symbolic importance at least as significant as its physical importance....
' musket
Musket

A musket is a Muzzle -loaded, smoothbore long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder.Usually, the musket is thought to be the weapon that replaced the arquebus, and was in turn replaced by the rifle....
s and Baker .61 rifle
Rifle

A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls....
s. After two hours of combat, on 12 May 1835, the Santa Anna's "Army of Operations" defeated the Zacatecan militia and took almost 3,000 prisoners. Santa Anna allowed his army to ransack Zacatecas for forty-eight hours. After defeating Zacatecas, he planned to move on to Coahuila y Tejas
Coahuila y Tejas

Coahuila y Tejas was one of the constituentState s of the newly established Mexico under its 1824 Constitution of Mexico.During its short life, it had two capitals: first Saltillo, and then Monclova ....
.

Texas Revolution

Like other states discontented with the central Mexican authorities, the Texas department of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas went into rebellion in late 1835 and declared itself independent on 2 March 1836. (See Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution

The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was fought from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836 between Mexico and the Mexican Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas....
 and Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas was a sovereignty nation in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the nation claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S....
.) Santa Anna marched north to bring Texas back under Mexican control. On March 6, 1836, at the Battle of El Alamo
Battle of the Alamo

The Battle of the Alamo is the most famous battle of the Texas Revolution. After a revolutionary army of Texian settlers and adventurers from the United States drove all Mexican troops out of Mexican Texas, Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led an invasion to regain control of the area....
, Santa Anna's forces killed 187-250 Texan defenders and executed over 350 Texan prisoners at the Goliad Massacre (March 27, 1836).

Following the defeat, the Texans were reorganized under Sam Houston
Sam Houston

Samuel Houston was a 19th century United States statesman, politician, and soldier. Born on Timber Ridge, just north of Lexington, Virginia in Rockbridge County, Virginia, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, Houston was a key figure in the history of Texas, including periods as President of the Republic of Texas, United States Senate for Te...
. Santa Anna was soon defeated by Houston's soldiers at the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto

The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texas Army engaged and defeated General Antonio L?pez de Santa Anna's Mexico forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen minutes....
 on April 21, 1836, with the Texan army shouting "Remember Goliad, Remember the Alamo!" A small band of Texan forces captured Santa Anna, dressed in a dragoon private's uniform and hiding in a marsh, the day after the battle on 22 April.

Acting Texas president David G. Burnet
David G. Burnet

David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as Interim President , Vice-President , & Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America....
 and Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco
Treaties of Velasco

The Treaties of Velasco were two documents signed at Velasco, Texas, on May 14, 1836 between Antonio L?pez de Santa Anna of Mexico and the Republic of Texas, in the aftermath of the Battle of San Jacinto ....
 "in his official character as chief of the Mexican nation, he acknowledged the full, entire, and perfect Independence of the Republic of Texas." In exchange, Burnet and the Texas government guaranteed Santa Anna's life and transport to Veracruz. Before Santa Anna could leave Texas, 200 angry volunteer soldiers from the United States threatened to remove him from his boat and kill him as it left the port of Velasco. Back in Mexico City
Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital city of Mexico. It is the most important economic, industrial, and cultural center in the country; the most populous city with over 8,836,045 inhabitants in 2008....
, a new government declared that Santa Anna was no longer president and that the treaty with Texas was null and void.

While captive in Texas, Joel Roberts Poinsett
Joel Roberts Poinsett

Joel Roberts Poinsett was a physician, botanist and USA statesman. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico , a U.S....
—U.S. minister to Mexico in 1824—offered a harsh assessment of General Santa Anna's situation, stating:
Say to General Santa Anna that when I remember how ardent an advocate he was of liberty ten years ago, I have no sympathy for him now, that he has gotten what he deserves.


To this message, Santa Anna made the reply:

Say to Mr. Poinsett that it is very true that I threw up my cap for liberty with great ardor, and perfect sincerity, but very soon found the folly of it. A hundred years to come my people will not be fit for liberty. They do not know what it is, unenlightened as they are, and under the influence of a Catholic clergy, a despotism is the proper government for them, but there is no reason why it should not be a wise and virtuous one.


Redemption, dictatorship, and exile

After some time in exile in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, and after meeting with U.S. president Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States . He was List of governors of Florida of Florida , commander of the American forces at the Battle of New Orleans , and eponym of the era of Jacksonian democracy....
 in 1837, he was allowed to return to Mexico aboard the USS Pioneer to retire to his magnificent hacienda
Hacienda

Hacienda is a Spanish language word for an estate, usually, but not always, a vast ranch. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even factories....
 in Veracruz
Veracruz

Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is one of the 31 states of Mexico that constitute the republic of Mexico....
, called Manga de Clavo.

In 1838, Santa Anna discovered a chance to redeem himself from his Texan loss, when French
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
 forces landed in Veracruz, Mexico in the Pastry War
Pastry War

The Pastry War was an invasion of Mexico by France forces in 1838....
, a short conflict which began after Mexico rejected French demands for financial recompense for losses suffered by some French citizens. The Mexican government gave Santa Anna control of the army and ordered him to defend the nation by any means necessary. He engaged the French at Veracruz and, as the Mexican resistance retreated after a failed assault, Santa Anna was hit in the leg and hand by cannon fire. His ankle was shattered and this resulted in the amputation of his leg, which he ordered buried with full military honors. Santa Anna famously used a cork leg after the amputation, but it was captured and kept by American troops during the Mexican-American War. It is on display at the Illinois National Guard
Illinois Army National Guard

The Illinois National Guard comprises both Army National Guard and Air National Guard components. The United States National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status....
 Museum in Springfield
Springfield, Illinois

Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County, Illinois with a population of 116,482 . Over 200,000 residents live in the Springfield Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area, which includes Sangamon County and adjacent Menard County, Illinois....
. The Mexican government has repeatedly asked for its return. Despite Mexico's capitulation to French demands, Santa Anna was able to use his wound to re-enter Mexican politics as a hero. He never allowed Mexico to forget him and his sacrifice in defending the fatherland.

Soon after, Santa Anna was once again asked to take control of the provisional government as Bustamante's presidency turned chaotic. Santa Anna accepted and became president for the fifth time. Santa Anna took over a nation with an empty treasury. The war with France had weakened Mexico, and the people were discontented. Also, a rebel army led by Generals Jose Urrea and José Antonio Mexía
José Antonio Mexía

the melester Jos? Antonio M?x?a was a 19th-century Mexico politician. He claimed to have been born in Xalapa, Veracruz, but contradicting contemporary reports say he was a native of Cuba....
 was marching towards the Capital, at war against Santa Anna. The rebellion was crushed in Puebla
Puebla

Puebla is a Political divisions of Mexico located in the center east of the country, to the east of Mexico City.The state of Puebla borders the states of Veracruz to the east, Hidalgo , Mexico State, Tlaxcala, and Morelos to the west, and Guerrero and Oaxaca to the south....
, by an army commanded by the president himself.

Santa Anna's rule was even more dictatorial than his first administration. Anti-Santanista newspapers were banned and dissidents jailed. In 1842, a military expedition into Texas
Dawson Massacre

The Dawson Massacre was an event in the history of the Republic of Texas, in which 36 Texans were killed by Mexico soldiers and Texas Cherokee Indians with cannon on September 18, 1842 outside San Antonio, Texas....
 was renewed, with no gain but to further persuade the Texans of the benefits of American annexation.

His demands for ever greater taxes aroused ire, and several Mexican states simply stopped dealing with the central government, Yucatán
Yucatán

Yucat?n is one of the States of Mexico of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucat?n Peninsula. The Yucatan peninsula includes three states: Yucat?n, Campeche, and Quintana Roo; all three modern states were formerly part of the larger historic state of Yucat?n in the 19th century....
 and Laredo
Laredo, Texas

Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico....
 going so far as to declare themselves independent republics. With resentment ever growing against the president, Santa Anna once again stepped down from power. Fearing for his life, Santa Anna tried to elude capture, but in January 1845 he was apprehended by a group of Indians near Xico, Veracruz
Xico, Veracruz

Xico is a city located in the central part of the Mexican State of Veracruz. It produces coffee, tropical fruit, wine, handcrafts, and other products....
, turned over to authorities, and imprisoned. His life was spared, but the dictator was exiled to Cuba
Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is a country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba , the island of Isla de la Juventud, and several adjacent small islands....
.

Santaannain1847

Mexican-American War

In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico. Santa Anna wrote to Mexico City
Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital city of Mexico. It is the most important economic, industrial, and cultural center in the country; the most populous city with over 8,836,045 inhabitants in 2008....
 saying he no longer had aspirations to the presidency, but would eagerly use his military experience to fight off the foreign invasion of Mexico as he had in the past. President Valentín Gómez Farías
Valentín Gómez Farías

Valent?n G?mez Far?as was several times acting President of Mexico Mexico in the 1830s and 1840s.The first presidency of Santa Anna from 1833 to 1836 was a temporary victory for the Mexican Liberals....
 was desperate enough to accept the offer and allowed Santa Anna to return. Meanwhile, Santa Anna had secretly been dealing with representatives of the United States, pledging that if he were allowed back in Mexico through the U.S. naval blockades, he would work to sell all contested territory to the United States at a reasonable price. Once back in Mexico at the head of an army, Santa Anna reneged on both of these agreements. Santa Anna declared himself president again and unsuccessfully tried to fight off the United States invasion. (However, his actions did inspire the Sea shanty
Sea shanty

Sea shanties were shipboard work songs. Some speculate that shanties may have been sung as early as the 15th century though there is little evidence to support this claim....
, "Santianna
Santianna

"Santianna", also known as "Santiana", "Santy Anna", "Santayana", "Santiano", "Santy Anno" and other variations, is a sea shanty relating to the Mexican General Antonio L?pez de Santa Anna....
".)

In 1851, Santa Anna went into exile in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston is the Capital and largest city of Jamaica and is located on the southeastern coast of the island country. It faces a natural harbor protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit which connects Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island....
, and two years later, moved to Turbaco
Turbaco

Turbaco is a municipality in the Bol?var department of Colombia. It is about 30 minutes from Cartagena de Indias and is one of Bolivar's most organized municipality....
, Colombia
Colombia

Colombia , officially the Republic of Colombia , is a country in north-western South America. Colombia is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the north west by Panama; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. In April 1853, he was invited back by rebellious conservatives, with whom he succeeded in retaking the government. This reign was no better than his earlier ones. He funneled government funds to his own pockets, sold more territory to the United States (see Gadsden Purchase
Gadsden Purchase

The Gadsden Purchase is a region of what is today southern Arizona and New Mexico that was purchased by the United States in a treaty signed by President Franklin Pierce on June 24, 1853, and then ratified by the U.S....
), and declared himself dictator for life with the title "Most Serene Highness". The Ayutla Rebellion of 1854 once again removed Santa Anna from power.

Despite his generous payoffs to the military for loyalty, by 1855 even his conservative allies had had enough of Santa Anna. That year a group of liberals led by Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez

Benito Pablo Ju?rez Garc?a was a Zapotec people Amerindian who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858?1861 as interim, 1861?1865, 1865?1867, 1867?1871 and 1871?1872....
 and Ignacio Comonfort
Ignacio Comonfort

Ignacio Comonfort was a Mexico politician and military officer.He was born in 1812 in Puebla de los ?ngeles, in the state of Puebla, to French people parents....
 overthrew Santa Anna, and he fled back to Cuba. As the extent of his corruption became known he was tried in absentia for treason and all his estates confiscated. He then lived in exile in Cuba, the United States, Colombia
Colombia

Colombia , officially the Republic of Colombia , is a country in north-western South America. Colombia is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the north west by Panama; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and St. Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea, a county and constituent Districts and sub-districts of the United States Virgin Islands of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States....
. During his time in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 he is credited as bringing the first shipments of chicle
Chicle

Chicle is the natural gum from Manilkara chicle, which is a tropical evergreen tree native to Central America. The tree ranges from Veracruz in Mexico south to Department of Atl?ntico in Colombia....
, the base of chewing gum
Chewing gum

Chewing gum is a type of confection traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber. For reasons of economy and quality, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle....
, to the United States, but he failed to profit from this, since his plan was to use the chicle to replace rubber in carriage tires, which was tried without success. In 1869, 74-year-old Santa Ana was living in exile from Mexico in, of all places, Staten Island, New York. He was trying to raise money for an army so he could go back and take Mexico City. His plan was to sell Mexican chicle to America as a substitute for then-expensive rubber. So he invited Adams to visit him. Adams took a chance and bought a ton of chicle from him, but he had no luck making it into a rubber substitute.

The American assigned to aid Santa Anna while he was in the United States, Thomas Adams, conducted experiments with the chicle and called it "Chiclets
Chiclets

Chiclets are a brand of candy coated chewing gum made by Cadbury Adams.The colors of the chiclets are: yellow, green, orange, red, white ,and pink....
," which helped found the chewing gum industry. Santa Anna was a passionate fan of the sport of cockfight
Cockfight

File:Jean leon gerome combat de coqs.jpgA cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters, held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout the United States and in most of Europe....
ing. He would invite breeders from all over the world for matches and is known to have spent tens of thousands of dollars on prize rooster
Rooster

A rooster, also called a cock or chanticleer is a male chicken , the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels....
s.

In 1874 he took advantage of a general amnesty and returned to Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
. Crippled and almost blind from cataracts, he was ignored by the Mexican government when the anniversary of the Battle of Churubusco
Battle of Churubusco

The Battles of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras during the Mexican-American War. The defeat of the Mexican army at Churubusco left the United States Army only 5 miles away from Mexico City....
 occurred. Santa Anna died in Mexico City two years later, on June 21, 1876, penniless and heartbroken.

Personal life

Santa Anna was a devoted collector of Napoleonic artifacts, and also considered himself the "Napoleon of the West." His nickname, though, was "The Eagle." While it is understood that Santa Anna considered himself "Napoleon of the West" he did so only after the Texas Telegraph and Register referred to him as such.

Santa Anna married Inés García in 1825 and fathered four children. Their names were "Gudalupe, Maria del Carmen, Manuel and Antonio." (p. 92 "Santa Anna of Mexico," by Will Fowler, 2007) She died in 1844. After a month of mourning, the 50-year-old Santa Anna married 15-year-old María Dolores de Tosta. While they were married until the end of his life they rarely lived together. "Despite the fact that in 1842 Santa Anna had bought the vast hacienda of El Encero, on the outskirts of Xalapa, Dolores did not settle there....and Santa Anna was not in a position to force her to stay there. She moved into the house Santa Anna bought her in Mexico City...and made that her home until she died in 1886." (p. 229 "Santa Anna of Mexico," by Will Fowler, 2007) As for bearing children, "Considering her husband's evident potency the fact she remained childless gives rise to speculation on the nature of the marriage or on her fertility." (p. 229 "Santa Anna of Mexico," by Will Fowler, 2007) As for other heirs "Santa Anna of Mexico" explains, "the following women claimed to have had children of his: Nazaria Santos, Rafaela Morenza, Maria Cesarea, and Amanda Sandoval. In Santa Anna's last will (29 October 1874) he admitted to having fathered four illegitimate children (Paula, Merced, Petra, and Jose). One of his biographers found another: Pedro Lopes de Santa Anna, and research by Will Fowler in the regional archives in Veracruz led to the discovery of two more: Angel and Agustina Rosa Lopez de Santa Anna." (p.92 "Santa Anna of Mexico")

Legend has it that his lack of preparations or even defensive measures prior to the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto

The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texas Army engaged and defeated General Antonio L?pez de Santa Anna's Mexico forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen minutes....
 were due to his being entertained by Emily Morgan
Emily West Morgan

Emily West Morgan was an indentured servant remembered for stories of her heroism during Texas's Texas revolution.The legend of Emily has been touted as a mythology and not a part of history, but some historians argue otherwise....
, a mulatto
Mulatto

Mulatto denotes a person with one White people parent and one Black people parent or a person who has black ancestry and white ancestry. It is perceived as pejorative and demeaning in some cultures....
 girl, in his tent. It gave rise to the song "The Yellow Rose of Texas
The Yellow Rose of Texas

"The Yellow Rose of Texas" is a traditional folk music which has long been popular in the United States and is considered an unofficial state song of Texas....
." There is however, no primary source evidence to support this.

In 1897, Santa Anna's grandson by his second marriage, Santa Anna III (1881–1965), entered the Jesuit order.

Presidencies

Santa Anna held the office 11 times:

  • May 16, 1833 – June 3, 1833
  • June 18, 1833 – July 5, 1833
  • October 27, 1833 – December 15, 1833
  • April 24, 1834 – January 27, 1835
  • March 20, 1839 – July 10, 1839
  • October 10, 1841 – October 26, 1842
  • March 4, 1843 – October 4, 1843
  • June 4, 1844 – September 12, 1844
  • March 21, 1847 – April 2, 1847
  • May 20, 1847 – September 15, 1847
  • April 20, 1853 – August 9, 1855


In popular culture

  • Santa Anna is one of the main characters in the 2004 movie The Alamo, portrayed by Emilio Echevarría
    Emilio Echevarría

    Emilio Echevarr?a is a Mexico actor. Internationally he is perhaps most well known for appearing in a trio of films: Amores Perros , Y tu mam? tambi?n, and Babel ....
    . In the 1960 film, directed by John Wayne
    John Wayne

    John Wayne was an Academy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning United States film actor. He epitomized rugged masculinity and has become an enduring American icon....
    , he was played by Ruben Padilla.
  • In the King of The Hill episode "The Final Shinsult", the artificial leg is on display at the museum, and later in the episode, stolen then returned to Mexico only to be a decoy. Cotton is seen trading it for a driver's license at the end of the episode.
  • Santa Anna is also referred to as a military leader in the 2005 film "The Mask of Zorro"


Further reading

  • José Manuel Villalpando César, Las balas del invasor, Miguel Angel Porrua; ISBN
  • Roberts, Randy & Olson, James S., A Line in the Sand, Simon & Schuster; ISBN
  • Jackson, Jack & Wheat, John, Almonte's Texas, Texas State Historical Assoc.; ISBN
  • Anderson, Fred & Cayton, Andrew, The Dominion of War, Viking Press; ISBN
  • Crawford, Ann F.; The Eagle: The Autobiography of Santa Anna; State House Press; ISBN
  • Santoni, Pedro; Mexicans at Arms-Puro Federalist and the Politics of War; TCU Press; ISBN
  • Borroel, Roger (2nd edition, 2002), The Texas Revolution of 1836, La Villita Publications, ISBN 1-928792-09-X
  • Fowler, Will, Santa Anna of Mexico, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0-803211-20-1


External links

  • : Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna autographed bond dated 1866.
  • Sketch of from , hosted by the .
  • From