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Biographical Notes
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Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
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In 1857 a new constitution was promulgated and triggered three years of brutal fratricidal civil war within Mexico. During this period Santa Anna contacted various European powers seeking their intervention in Mexico, offering hiself to play a part. In 1858 political events in Colombia forced Santa Anna and his family to move to St. Thomas. During the revolving door of politics in Mexico at one point in 1859 Santa Anna's rank of general was restored to him and several leaders talked openly of bringing him back to power. Benito Juarez emerged as President and in June 1861, because of the financial ruin of the country, was forced to suspend payments on all foreign debt. The French under Napoleon III responded by invading the country and installing Emperor Maximilian in Mexico City. Early on Santa Anna actively attempted to play a role in support and was promised the title of Duke of Vera Cruz or Tampico. Ultimately he was thwarted by his political opponents, led by Juan N. Almonte, who convinced Napoleon III that Santa Anna would not be useful to Maximilian. In February 1864 Santa Anna went to Vera Cruz in an effort to become involved, but was rejected and had to return to St. Thomas.
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Following Maximilian's installation as Emperor, Benito Juarez went into opposition. In January 1865 Santa Anna requested and received from Maximilian his pay as general. In May of the same year he advised friends in Mexico not to accept any position in the Empire and advocated that all Mexicans unite against the foreign regime. In the United States the civil war ended and leaders like General Ulysses S. Grant advocated the use of military force to remove the French and Maximilian from Mexico. General Phillip S. Sheridan was military commander in Louisiana and Texas and directed provocative troop maneuvers along the border with Mexico. The Secretary of State, William H. Seward, exerted diplomatic pressure on Paris to remove French forces supporting Maximilian. In October 1865, Santa Anna contacted President Johnson in an attempt to offer his services in the effort to remove the French from Mexico. In January 1866 Seward called on Santa Anna in St. Thomas which led to speculation that the United States was considering supporting him to organize the government following Maximilian's ouster. At the same time Sheridan was actively supporting Juarez with generous supplies of ammunition and weaponry.
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In May 1864 Santa Anna was tricked into believing that the United States was going to provide him with funds with which to assist in the overthrow of Maximilian. He traveled to Washington, but by November it was clear that the U.S. Government was going to support Juarez and did not want Santa Anna's help or involvement. In March 1845, he left the United States and arrived in Vera Cruz harbor on June 3, 1845, in an effort to overthrow Maximilian on his own and establish a government that would not include Juarez. The United States Consul learned of Santa Anna's arrival and, with U.S. and British naval assistance, had him turned away. After Vera Cruz Santa Anna continued on to Yucatan where he was arrested by the local Mexican authorities. Juaerz was now in Mexico City and Santa Anna was transferred to Vera Cruz where he drew up his last will and testament in expectation of being executed. In November 1867, he was tried and once again sent into exile, first in Havana, then Puerto Plata, and finally in Nassau.
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On February 27, 1874, Santa Anna returned to Vera Cruz. Juarez was dead and the liberals finally pardoned the bankrupt octogenarian to live out his days in his homeland. He died two years later on June 21, 1876 at his simple home in the village of Guadalupe, just outside of Mexico City.
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