|
Biographical Notes
|
|
|
|
|
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
|
|
|
While in captivity, Santa Anna signed two treaties - one meant to be public and one secret. In these documents he pledged to never again take up arms against Texas or aid in the war against Texan independence. He also agreed to prepare the Mexican cabinet to receive a peace commission from Texas. In return the Texans were to send him to Vera Cruz promptly. Huston had some difficulty keeping Santa Anna away from an angry public, but President Andrew Jackson suggested that he was more valuable alive than dead. At the end of November 1836, Huston ordered that Santa Anna be transported to Washington D.C. where he met with President Jackson. The Mexican government had repudiated Santa Anna and Jackson recognized that no formal negotiations could be undertaken with him. At the same time it appears that Jackson believed that Santa Anna recognized that Mexico was not strong enough to retake Texas militarily and, if reinstated in power in Mexico, would agree to formally recognize the independence of Texas in return for a payment of money from the United States. In February 1837, the USS Pioneer transported Santa Anna to Vera Cruz. Santa Anna's return was welcomed by some, opposed by others, and feared by many. In order to assure his safety an American naval officer, Lieutenant J. Tattnall accompanied him to his estate where he once again went into retirement.
|
|
|
In 1838 relations between France and Mexico deteriorated over Mexico's non-payment of a $600,000 debt. (Part of the debt was related to a French baker's loss of some pastries consumed by Mexican soldiers. The ensuing hostilities became known as The Pastry War.) At the end of the year the French blockaded Vera Cruz and Santa Anna was assigned the job of leading the defense. He successfully repulsed the French landing, but in the fighting had his horse shot out from under him and was wounded in the left leg. It was later amputated below the knee. Once again hailed as the Savior of the Nation he returned to Manga de Clavo to recuperate while the administration of then President Bustamante was losing control of the political scene. In February 1839, Bustamante left Mexico City to put down a political revolt in Tampico. Santa Anna was chosen to act in his place as President ad interim. In May 1839, Santa Anna put down a revolt in Puebla de los Angeles and returned to Mexico City and commenced a total reorganization of the army so as to consolidate his control of it.
|
|
|
In July 1839, Santa Anna gave power back to Bustamante and retired to Manga de Clavo. In July 1841 General Jose Urrea executed a liberal coup d'tat. Gomez Farias joined with him while Bustamante fled and organized a resistance. Santa Anna announced that he was returning to Mexico City and wanted to act as mediator between Urrea and Bustamante. Neither Bustamante nor Urrea wanted that to happen and they reached a settlement of their differences which permitted Bustamante to remain in office. Santa Anna remained in Manga de Clavo until October 1841, when he participated in a coup that displaced Bustamante and named him Provisional President. Mexico City's relations with several of its outlying provinces and territories were in serious trouble. Several of them increasingly spoke of the advantages of joining with Texas or in declaring their own independence. In September 1842, on Santa Anna's orders, General Woll attacked San Antonio and captured a number of it's leading citizens. They were subsequently released.
|
|
|
In December 1842, Santa Anna, once again living at Manga de Clavo, ordered Acting President Bravo to dissolve the legislature which was critical of his regime. Santa Anna now ruled as a dictator. In June 1843 Santa Anna again called for military action against Texas, but in September agreed to an armistice for further negotiations. During this period he sought support from Europe for military action against Texas but was unsuccessful. His continued hostility toward Texan independence was popular in Mexico and secretly viewed by many Texan leaders as being necessary to position himself for a deal that traded money for independence. In March 1843, Bravo tired of his responsibilities and Santa Anna returned to the capital. A new constitution calling for increased centralization of political power was promulgated in June 1843. In October, Santa Anna returned to Manga de Clavo leaving Valentin Canalizo as Acting President.
|
|
|
During 1844, the new legislature, elected under the provisions of the constitution of 1843, continued to be critical of Santa Anna. In August 1844, Santa Anna's wife, Dona Ines, died at the age of thirty three. Santa Anna was facing serious opposition in the legislature and his wife's death drove him to dispair. He named Jose Joaquin Herrera Acting President and retired to El Encero, his new estate near Manga de Clavo and Vera Cruz. In October 1844, he married Maria Dolores Tosta. In November General Paredes launched a rebellion. Santa Anna responded immediately but was unable to recruit sufficient support to prevail over widespread opposition. In attempting to flee the country he was captured by Indians near Vera Cruz. Once his captors learned who he was they decided to boil him alive, but were prevented by the local Catholic priest. Instead, he was turned over to authorities and tried for a long list of abuses of power. On June 3, 1845, he and his family were sent off to exile in Havana, Cuba.
|
|
|
In November 1843, James K. Polk was elected President of the United States on a platform that included the annexation of Texas. Political leaders in Texas and the United States held that the Rio Grande River was the border between Texas and the United States and that Santa Anna had so agreed in the treaties signed after the battle of San Jacinto. Mexico disagreed, arguing that the southern border of Texas was the Nueces River further to the north. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to try to negotiate an acceptable solution short of all out war. He also sent a military force under the command of Zachary Taylor to defend the Rio Grande border while President Herrera sent a military force under the command of Mariano Arista to defend the Nueces River line. In December 1845, Paredes replaced Herrera as President and Santa Anna began maneuvering in earnest to return to Mexico.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|