Reference
- Antonio López de Santa AnnaAntonio López de Santa Anna, in full Antonio López de Santa Anna Pérez de Lebrón, (born February 21, 1794, Jalapa, Mexico—died June 21, 1876, Mexico City), Mexican army officer and statesman who was the storm centre of Mexico’s politics during such events as the Texas Revolution (1835–36) and the Mexican-American War (1846–48).
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. 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 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. He remained in power until 1836, when he marched into Texas to quell a rebellion by primarily U.S. settlers there. During the course of this punitive expedition, Texas declared its independence from Mexico (March 2). 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. After signing a public treaty ending the war and a secret treaty in which he promised to do everything he could to ensure that the Mexican government adhered to the public treaty, Santa Anna was sent to Washington, D.C., for an interview with U.S. Pres. Andrew Jackson, who returned him to Mexico, where, in the meantime, he had been deposed from power during his absence.
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Perspectives
Santa Anna of Mexico
Drawing on seventeen years of research into the politics of independent Mexico, Will Fowler provides a revised picture of Santa Anna s life, with new insights into his activities in his bailiwick of Veracruz and in his numerous military engagements. The Santa Anna who emerges from this book is an intelligent, dynamic, yet reluctant leader, ingeniously deceptive at times, courageous and patriotic at others. His extraordinary story is that of a middle-class provincial criollo, a high-ranking officer, an arbitrator, a dedicated landowner, and a political leader who tried to prosper personally and help his country develop at a time of severe and repeated crises, as the colony that was New Spain gave way to a young, troubled, besieged, and beleaguered Mexican nation."
From Santa Anna to Selena
"A collection of portraits of important people either from Mexico or of Mexican heritage, who had an influence on Texas history. Time period begins in 1821 when Mexico achieved independence from Spain, up to the present."--Publisher.
Websites
- 6 Things You May Not Know About Santa Anna-History ChannelThe 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. 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. Although disgraced after the Texas Revolution, Santa Anna staged a political resurrection and served as president seven more times between 1839 and 1855....
- Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794–1876)-San Jacinto Museum of HistoryBorn on February 21, 1794, in Veracruz, Santa Anna enjoyed a middle-class upbringing. After some formal education and a short career as a merchant, he was appointed to the infantry. It was a good fit for him.
He fought Mexican rebels under the Spanish for years, receiving several promotions. But in 1821, he switched sides and led the rebels under Agustín de Iturbide. Eventually made governor, he became a national hero fighting the Spanish.
Santa Anna was elected president of Mexico in 1833, the first of five presidential stints. But his autocratic centralism caused rebellion at the local level. It was in this context that his army marched north to Texas.... - Antonio López de Santa Anna-BiographyAntonio López de Santa Anna, born on February 21, 1794, in Jalapa, Mexico, became a military captain and was elected president in 1833, known for his efforts in staving off Spain’s attempt to recapture the country. Santa Anna was later involved in conflicts with France and the U.S., including the secession of Texas, and was seen as responsible for much of Mexico’s turmoil. He died on June 21, 1876....