Santa Anna, << `sahn` tah AH nah, >> Antonio López de (1795?-1876), was a Mexican soldier and politician. He was president of Mexico 11 times and often ruled as a dictator, but he was always overthrown.
Young soldier.
Santa Anna was born probably in 1795 in Xalapa, in the province of Veracruz. At the age of 15, he became a cadet in the Spanish Army stationed in Mexico. He began his long career by fighting for Spain against the Mexicans when the Mexicans started their armed struggle for independence in 1810.
During the War of Independence of 1821, he deserted the Spaniards and joined forces with Mexican leader Agustín de Iturbide. Mexico won its freedom from Spain in 1821, and Iturbide became emperor. See Iturbide, Agustín de
Santa Anna expected the new emperor to make him governor of Veracruz. When Iturbide failed to do so, Santa Anna led a revolt against him and drove him from power. In 1829, Spain attempted to reconquer Mexico. Santa Anna, as commander in chief of the Mexican Army, won several victories, and the Spanish invasion was defeated. He was elected president in 1833 but did not serve. In 1834, he joined a revolt against the acting government, took control of the country, and assumed dictatorial powers.
War with Texas.
In 1835, Texas, which was then a part of Mexico, revolted against the Mexican government. The population of Texas included many settlers from the United States, and cultural and legal differences between Mexicans and the settlers had led numerous Texans to oppose Mexican rule.
Santa Anna rushed north to put down the revolt. He attacked San Antonio and stormed the Alamo in March 1836, with an army that greatly outnumbered the Texans (see Alamo ). Santa Anna’s troops captured the Alamo, and then met the main Texas army under General Sam Houston at San Jacinto. Santa Anna’s army was routed, and he was taken prisoner. The Texans forced Santa Anna to sign a treaty acknowledging the independence of Texas. But the treaty was rejected in Mexico City, and Santa Anna was removed from power.
The American war.
In 1838, the French attacked Veracruz. Santa Anna took command of the defending troops and beat back the attackers. From 1841 to 1844, he was president of Mexico again. In 1844, there was a revolt against him, and he fled to Jamaica. War broke out with the United States in 1846. Santa Anna returned to Mexico and took command of the army. The American forces defeated him at Buena Vista, at Cerro Gordo, and at Chapultepec. After the fall of Mexico City, Santa Anna left Mexico for several years.
In 1853, he returned to Mexico and became president again. He declared himself president for life but within two years was again overthrown and exiled. He tried to return during the French invasion of Mexico in 1864 but was not allowed to enter the country. He returned in 1874 after the death of President Benito Juarez and died in poverty on June 21, 1876, in Mexico City.
