Isabella Carter
The Constitution of 1824 was the first constitution of Mexico, establishing the country as a federal republic composed of 19 free states and 3 territories. However, in 1835, Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna repealed this constitution, replacing it with the Siete Leyes (The Seven Laws), and dissolving state legislatures and militias. This caused great alarm in Texas, which enjoyed considerable rights under the 1824 Constitution, including exemption from taxes, tariffs, and government services, and led to the Texas Revolution, with Texans fighting for the restoration of the Constitution of 1824. Santa Anna, however, crushed the rebellion, and Texas eventually became an independent republic. Interestingly, Santa Anna played a prominent role in discarding the Constitution of 1824 in 1835 and in restoring it in 1847.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Santa Anna's role in the Texas Revolution | Santa Anna repealed the Constitution of 1824, dissolved the state legislature, and killed Texan prisoners of war. These actions led to the Texas Revolution and Texas becoming an independent republic. |
| The Constitution of 1824 | Established Mexico as a federal republic composed of 19 free states and 3 territories, with the central states working as an administrative decentralization. |
| Santa Anna's involvement | Santa Anna was known for switching sides between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. He played a role in discarding the Constitution of 1824 in 1835 and restoring it in 1847. |
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What You'll Learn
Santa Anna's role in repealing the Constitution of 1824
Santa Anna played a significant role in the repeal of the Constitution of 1824, which was Mexico's first constitution. The Constitution of 1824 was enacted on October 4, 1824, and established a federal government of sovereign states, with considerable rights granted to individual Mexican states.
Santa Anna, a former insurgent general, became involved in Mexico's political conflict between liberals and conservatives. He was known for switching sides between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party during his political career. In 1835, Santa Anna returned to power and aligned himself with opponents of reform, abandoning his previous liberal stance and assuming absolute power. He replaced the Constitution of 1824 with a new document known as the "Siete Leyes" ("The Seven Laws"), which established a provisional centralist system. This shift towards centralism and the replacement of the federal government with an authoritarian system caused discontent, particularly in Texas and several other Mexican states, which had enjoyed a high degree of autonomy under the 1824 Constitution.
The repeal of the 1824 Constitution and Santa Anna's consolidation of power led to revolts in several Mexican states, including Texas. Texas had a unique status under the 1824 Constitution, with American settlers in the region being exempt from taxes, tariffs, and government services, including defence. This effectively allowed Texans to govern themselves. However, in 1830, the Mexican Congress passed a law prohibiting further American immigration to Texas and authorizing the use of convict troops to police the area. This, along with repeated American attempts to purchase Texas, fueled suspicions among Mexicans about American intentions.
Santa Anna's actions in repealing the 1824 Constitution and his subsequent policies, such as dissolving state legislatures and centralizing power, directly contributed to the Texas Revolution and the eventual independence of Texas from Mexico. His declaration that all foreigners fighting on Mexican soil would be treated as pirates further escalated tensions. Santa Anna's invasion of Texas in 1836, including the attack on the Alamo, marked a critical point in the Texas Revolution. As a result of his actions, Texas became an independent republic, and Mexico lost significant territory.
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The Texas Revolution and Santa Anna's involvement
The Texas Revolution (1835-1836) was a conflict between Mexico and Texas, which was then a Mexican state. The revolution ultimately led to Texas becoming an independent republic.
Antonio López de Santa Anna was a Mexican army officer and statesman who played a significant role in the Texas Revolution. He was known for switching sides in the conflict between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. Santa Anna's involvement in the Texas Revolution can be traced back to his decision to repeal the Mexican Constitution of 1824, which granted considerable rights to individual Mexican states, including Texas. The constitution was based on "a federal government of sovereign states", and under this system, Texas was largely self-governing.
In 1830, the Mexican congress passed a law banning further American immigration to Texas and allowing the garrisoning of convict troops to police the area. This was partly due to suspicions that the United States was attempting to covertly take over Texas, as there had been repeated attempts by the US to purchase the state. In addition, there were ethnic prejudices and the issue of slavery, which was practised by American settlers in Texas but outlawed in the rest of Mexico.
In 1835, Santa Anna returned to power and aligned himself with opponents of reform, repudiating liberalism and assuming absolute power. He replaced the Constitution of 1824 with the "Siete Leyes" ("The Seven Laws"), which established a centralist government. This action provoked revolts in several Mexican states, including Texas. The Texas Department of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas declared itself independent in March 1836.
In February 1836, Santa Anna marched into Texas with an army of over 6,000 men, intending to crush the rebellion. He attacked the Alamo, leading to the famous 13-day siege and the death of every defender. Santa Anna's “take-no-prisoners" policy was initialized here, as he had the six wounded survivors of the battle executed. After defeating the Texans at the Alamo and Goliad, he moved eastward to the San Jacinto River. However, he was defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836, captured by General Sam Houston, and forced to sign a treaty ending the war.
Santa Anna's actions, particularly his repeal of the Constitution of 1824, his dissolution of state legislatures, and his harsh treatment of Texan prisoners, were key factors in the outbreak of the Texas Revolution and the eventual independence of Texas.
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Santa Anna's political opportunism and switching sides
Antonio López de Santa Anna, a Mexican general, politician, and caudillo, served as the president of Mexico on multiple occasions between 1833 and 1855. He was a pivotal figure in Mexican politics during the 19th century, playing a prominent role in both discarding the liberal Constitution of 1824 in 1835 and restoring it in 1847. Santa Anna's political career was marked by frequent shifts in allegiance and a reputation for opportunism.
Santa Anna's early military career during the Mexican War of Independence set the tone for his future political manoeuvres. In 1810, the 16-year-old Santa Anna joined the Fijo de Veracruz infantry regiment, fighting against the insurgency for crown rule. However, when royalist officer Agustín de Iturbide switched sides in 1821 and allied with the insurgents, Santa Anna followed suit, joining the fight for independence. This marked the first of many shifts in allegiance, as Santa Anna pursued opportunities to advance his career and influence.
Throughout his political career, Santa Anna was known for switching sides between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. He came to power as a liberal twice, in 1832 and 1847, sharing power with liberal statesman Valentín Gómez Farías. On both occasions, Santa Anna overthrew Gómez Farías after switching sides to the conservatives. His dictatorial style of rule, use of the military to dissolve Congress, and self-bestowed honorific title of "His Most Serene Highness" further contributed to his controversial legacy.
Santa Anna's opportunism was also evident in his involvement in the Texas Revolution (1835-1836). After Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836, Santa Anna marched into Texas, leading a punitive expedition against the primarily U.S. settlers. His lack of strategic patience at the Alamo resulted in significant losses for the Mexican army, and his execution of Texans at Goliad built popular support for the rebellion.
Santa Anna's political agility extended beyond domestic affairs, as he also played a role in Mexico's foreign relations. In 1846, following American victories in the Mexican-American War, Santa Anna returned from exile and offered his military experience to the new government. Despite his initial reluctance to assume the presidency, he ultimately did so and engaged in negotiations with U.S. President James K. Polk, who sought to acquire northern territory from Mexico.
In summary, Santa Anna's political opportunism and switching sides were hallmarks of his career, earning him a reputation for disloyalty and self-serving behaviour. His flexible convictions and pursuit of personal power shaped Mexico's political landscape in the decades following its independence.
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The impact of the Constitution of 1824 on Texas
The Constitution of 1824, created following the election of former insurgent general Guadalupe Victoria as the first president of the Mexican republic, had a significant impact on Texas. The constitution was based on "a federal government of sovereign states" and gave considerable rights to individual Mexican states. It was patterned after the United States Constitution but resembled the Spanish Constitution of 1812 more closely.
Under this constitution, Texas was combined with the state of Coahuila, and the legislature for the new state was organised at Saltillo in August 1824. The constitution provided that each state in the republic should frame its own constitution, and the process of framing a constitution for the new state of Coahuila and Texas took more than two years, with the final version published on March 11, 1827. The constitution divided the state into three departments, of which Texas, as the District of Bexar, was one. It guaranteed citizens liberty, security, property, and equality, and made the Catholic religion the state faith. Slavery was forbidden, and there could be no import of slaves after six months.
However, in 1835, Santa Anna returned to power and replaced the Constitution of 1824 with a new document known as the "Siete Leyes" ("The Seven Laws"). This caused discontent in Texas, as the Texans had originally fought for the Constitution of 1824. They believed that the constitution guaranteed them self-government, and when Santa Anna dissolved the state legislature and brought all the power to himself, Texas found itself working under an illegal system of government. As a result, Texas rebelled along with several other Mexican states, and the Texas Revolution began.
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Santa Anna's legacy in Mexican politics
Antonio López de Santa Anna, a Mexican general, politician, and statesman, was a pivotal figure in Mexican politics during the 19th century. He served as the president of Mexico on multiple occasions between 1833 and 1855, and his role in the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War made him a well-known figure in the United States as well.
Santa Anna's leadership style was dictatorial, and he made use of the military to dissolve Congress multiple times. He referred to himself as "His Most Serene Highness." His rule witnessed the loss of Texas, a series of military failures during the Mexican-American War, and the ensuing Mexican Cession. He was also involved in the fall of the First Mexican Empire, the fall of the First Mexican Republic, the promulgation of the Constitution of 1835, the establishment of the Centralist Republic of Mexico, the Pastry War, the promulgation of the Constitution of 1843, and the Mexican War of Reform.
Santa Anna's origins on Mexico's eastern coast had important ramifications for his military career, as he had developed immunity to yellow fever, which was endemic to the region. This gave him a strategic advantage over military officers from other regions. Santa Anna's provincial origins, however, made him uncomfortable in the halls of power in Mexico City, which were dominated by elite men. He frequently retreated to his base in Veracruz and cultivated connections with ordinary Mexican men.
Santa Anna was overthrown and exiled in 1855 through the liberal Plan of Ayutla. He eventually faded into the background of Mexican politics, even as the nation went through significant events such as the Reform War, the Second French Intervention in Mexico, and the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire. In 1874, an elderly Santa Anna was allowed to return to Mexico, where he lived in obscurity until his death in 1876.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Santa Anna repealed the Constitution of 1824.
The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was the first constitution of Mexico, enacted on 4 October 1824. It established Mexico as a federal republic.
Texas, along with several other Mexican states, rebelled. This marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution.
Texas became an independent republic.
Yes, Santa Anna played a prominent role in restoring the Constitution of 1824 in 1847.
