Antonio López de Santa Anna
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Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (February 21, 1794 – June 21, 1876)[1], often known as Santa Anna [2], was a Mexican political leader who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government, first fighting against the independence from Spain, and then supporting it, rising to the ranks of general and president 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.
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[edit] Early years
Santa Anna was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, on February 21, 1794; he was the son of a respected Spanish colonial family, Antonio López de Santa Anna and Manuela Pérez de Lebrón, who belonged to the criollo 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 for the Royal Army. After Santa Anna made it clear that he has 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 tribes of the internal provinces (political divisions of Mexico). Like most criollo officers in the Royalist army, he remained loyal to Spain, and for a number of years and fought against the movement for Mexican independence. He was only at the age of sixteen when he became a cadet.
[edit] 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 against the Gutiérrez/Magee Expedition, and at the Battle of Medina, 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 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. He also pursued gambling, a vice that would follow him all through his life. He even stole money from his unit’s funds to pay his gambling debts.
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. 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. Later, Santa Anna would play important roles in replacing presidents Manuel Gómez Pedraza and Vicente Guerrero. By 1824, Guerrero sent Santa Anna to be the governor of the state of Yucatán. 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, 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 with an invading force of 2,600 soldiers. Santa Anna marched against the Barradas Expedition with a much smaller force and defeated the Spaniards, many of whom were suffering from yellow fever. 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, 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".
[edit] 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 led a coup, overthrowing and killing President Vicente Guerrero. Santa Anna was elected president in 1833.
Gómez Farías 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, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Durango, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Yucatán, Jalisco, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. Several of these states formed their own governments, the Republic of the Rio Grande, the Republic of Yucatan, and the Republic of Texas. 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, the largest and best supplied of the Mexican states, led by Francisco Garcia, was well armed with .753 caliber British 'Brown Bess' muskets and Baker .61 rifles. 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.
[edit] 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 and Republic of Texas.) Santa Anna marched north to bring Texas back under Mexican control. On March 6, 1836, at the Battle of El Alamo, 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. Santa Anna was soon defeated by Houston's soldiers at the Battle of San Jacinto 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 and Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco "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, 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 — 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. [1]
[edit] Redemption, dictatorship, and exile
After some time in exile in the United States, and after meeting with U.S. president Andrew Jackson in 1837, he was allowed to return to Mexico aboard the USS Pioneer to retire to his magnificent hacienda in Veracruz, called Manga de Clavo.
In 1838, Santa Anna discovered a chance to redeem himself from his Texan loss, when French forces landed in Veracruz, Mexico in the Pastry War, 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 Museum in Springfield. The Mexican government has repeatedly asked for its return. [3] 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 was marching towards the Capital, at war against Santa Anna. The rebellion was crushed in Puebla, 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 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 and Laredo 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, turned over to authorities, and imprisoned. His life was spared, but the dictator was exiled to Cuba.
[edit] Mexican-American War
In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico. Santa Anna wrote to Mexico City 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 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, "Santianna".)
In 1851, Santa Anna went into exile in Kingston, Jamaica, and two years later, moved to Turbaco, Colombia. 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), 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 and Ignacio Comonfort 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, and St. Thomas. During his time in New York City he is credited as bringing the first shipments of chicle, the base of chewing gum, 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. 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," which helped found the chewing gum industry. Santa Anna was a passionate fan of the sport of cockfighting. He would invite breeders from all over the world for matches and is known to have spent tens of thousands of dollars on prize roosters.
In 1874 he took advantage of a general amnesty and returned to Mexico. Crippled and almost blind from cataracts, he was ignored by the Mexican government when the anniversary of the Battle of Churubusco occurred. Santa Anna died in Mexico City two years later, on June 21, 1876, penniless and heartbroken.
[edit] 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 {Dolores} 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 my {Will Fowler} own research 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 were due to his being entertained by Emily Morgan, a mulatto girl, in his tent. It gave rise to the song "The Yellow Rose 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.
[edit] Presidencies
Santa Anna held the office 11 times:
- May 16th]], 1833 - June 3rd, 1833
- June 18th, 1833 - July 5th, 1833
- October 27th, 1833 - December 15th, 1833
- April 24th, 1834 - January 27th, 1835
- March 20th, 1839 - July 10th, 1839
- October 10th, 1841 - October 26th, 1842
- March 4th, 1843 - October 4th, 1843
- June 4th, 1844 - September 12th, 1844
- March 21st, 1847 - April 2nd, 1847
- May 20th, 1847 - September 15th, 1847
- April 20th, 1853 - August 9th, 1855
[edit] In popular culture
- Santa Anna is one of the main characters in the 2004 movie The Alamo, portrayed by Emilio Echevarría. In the 1960 film, directed by John Wayne, 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.
[edit] References
- ^ SANTA ANNA, ANTONIO LÓPEZ DE from the Handbook of Texas Online
- ^ Howe, Daniel Walker (2007). What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848. Oxford Univ. Press. pp. 660.
- ^ Santa Anna's Leg Took a Long Walk
Parkes, Henry Bamford. "A History of Mexico", Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, MA. 1938.
Suchlicki, Jaime. "Mexico: Montezuma to the Rise of Pan", Potomac Books: Washington DC, 1996.
Mabry, Donald J., “Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna”, http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?artid=159&op=viewarticle, November 2, 2008.
[edit] Further reading
- (Spanish) 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
[edit] External links
- Santa Anna Letters on the Portal to Texas History
- The Handbook of Texas Online: Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
- Benson Latin American Collection - Antonio López de Santa Anna Collection
- George LaBarre Galleries : Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna autographed bond dated 1866.
- Sketch of Santa Anna from A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
- Archontology.org, Home » Nations » Mexico » Heads of State » LÓPEZ de SANTA ANNA, Antonio
- Texas Prisoners in Mexico August 3, 1843 From Texas Tides
