He got into power by the due process of election because the Mexican government wanted to express their sovereignty through a constitutional government. When he was elected, he turned around and abolished the very constitution that gave him power and began calling himself the Napoleon of the West. He said the Mexican people did not deserve a constitutional government i.e. 'too stupid to have self-governance' and began using his power to quash any resistance to his dicatatorship.
By abolishing this constitution, he nullified the various agreements the Mexican government had made NOT ONLY WITH THE ANGLO SETTLERS THEY HAD INVITED - but with the Tejano families that lived in Texas at the time and supported his government. Look up the Battle of Turtle Creek and the Treaty of Turtle Creek - Book of Texas History Online.
He never gave quarter to the Anglo settlers. Look up the Battle of Goliad.
He never gave quarter at the Alamo.
He used his army to chase families across the Texas wilderness, burning and pillaging everything along the way. This was known as the Runaway Scrape.
Against the advice of his other Generals, who kept trying to argue for more reasonable means of dealing with the Texians, he barreled ahead with only one canon to chase down Houston all the way to San Jacinto (who had two canons) - leaving behind his regiments. Look up the Battle of San Jacinto.
He surrendered to Houston, who let him go, and Santa Ana went back to Mexico and LIED about what happened and tried to recoup his forces.
SANTA ANA WAS EXILED FROM MEXICO.
Santa Ana hid out for a while then made his way to New York - where he managed to coddle his way into the sympathetic hearts of the NY elite there (yes, they existed then too! Poor wittle dictator - let us give you some money!!)
Santa Ana went back to Mexico, regained power...GOT EXILED AGAIN.
Santa Ana was an absolute horror to his country. Because of him and others in the government, clear delineation of the border of Mexico was never achieved, and we had to send troops back down to Port Isabel/Brownsville in order to kick their a$$es back into Mexico (Battle of Resaca de la Palma)
The more I read about this, the less charitable I am towards these people. Have never seen such a passive aggressive lazy a$$ed decietful envious and grasping group of people. Anglos were invited to the Texas area because none of the Mexican natives could be persuaded to colonise the area and fight off the Comanche/Apache/Karankawa that inhabited the area (no offense to the Comanche/Apache/Karankawa intended- they were brave warriors and fought tooth and nail - unlike the current crop of MesoAmerican Indian groups that would rather siphon off someone elses success than actually fight for their own - and they say we STOLE from them?!)...nor could they be interested in cultivating the area.
AM SICK of the perpetual lies...
Another very curious fact about Santa Anna. When his own people finally had enough of him he fled into exile to ....where else? - The good ol’ US of A!
He was by now quite old, but still needed to make some money. He’d got his hands on some rubbery mud that he hoped could be made into tires, but it turned out to be too soft. Still, he persevered, and ended up wealthy on an iconic American product.
He is the joint co-discoverer of chewing gum. Bizarre, but true.
I somehow can't find fault with his thinking.
Still, I'm condemning our own nation by the same judgement. Half our people vote for Al Gore and John Kerry, and the other half trusted President Bush to defend our border. That includes me.
Mexico is trapped by the same cycle of elite-enforced perpetual poverty.
They are laying the groundwork to institute the very same here.
Keep those guns handy and ammunition dry.
After screwing up the defense of Mexico City.
When he was exiled, he hobbled away on one leg. The other, wooden one, sits proudly in the Illinois National Guard museum in Springfield, one of many trophies of war won by brave citizen soldiers of my native state.
Texas and Mexico once had negotiations where Mexico would return the battle flag taken at the Alamo to Texas if Texas would get Sanata Ana's leg. Illinois rightly told everyone to pound sand, there was nothing in the deal to memorialize the stalwart heroism and tenacity of the Illinois Militia.
A hearty “The truth of history revealed” BUMP!
outstanding recounting...many thanks
Thanks.. interesting..
Splendid account and synopsis of the life of Santa Ana. He has many counterparts in the U.S. Government today— Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid and, unfortunately, George Bush.
