Omar Bennett
In 1835, Antonio López de Santa Anna repealed the Mexican Constitution of 1824, which gave individual Mexican states significant rights and was based on a federal government of sovereign states. This repeal was a response to the U.S. attempts to purchase Texas from Mexico and the growing number of American settlers in Texas, who were not paying taxes or tariffs and were not recipients of any services provided by the Mexican government. Santa Anna's actions ultimately led to the beginning of the Texas Revolution and the establishment of an independent republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1835 |
| Month | February |
| Reasoning | American settlers in Texas were not paying taxes or tariffs, and new settlers were not allowed |
| Result | Texas Revolution |
| Constitution Replaced With | Seven Laws |
| New System of Government | Dictatorship |
| Santa Anna's Role | Leader of the liberal revolution in Mexico against centralist President Anastacio Bustamante |
| Santa Anna's Fate | Captured and brought to Sam Houston |
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What You'll Learn
Santa Anna's role in the Texas Revolution
In 1821, Antonio López de Santa Anna played a role in Mexico's fight for independence. He supported Agustín de Iturbide, who was fighting under the Plan of Iguala. Santa Anna was rewarded with command of the port of Veracruz, but was soon removed from his position, prompting him to rebel against Iturbide in 1822.
In 1823, Santa Anna was sent to command in Yucatán, where he planned an invasion of Cuba, which was ultimately called off. In 1824, a liberal federalist, Guadalupe Victoria, became the first president of the Mexican republic, following the creation of the Constitution of 1824.
Santa Anna gained prestige in 1829 when he fought against Spain's attempt to reconquer Mexico, earning him the title "Hero of Tampico". This helped him gain the presidency in 1833 as a Federalist and opponent of the Roman Catholic Church. However, he established a centralized state.
In 1835, Santa Anna repealed the Constitution of 1824, which gave considerable rights to individual Mexican states. His reasoning was that American settlers in Texas were not paying taxes or tariffs, and were not recipients of any services provided by the Mexican government. This repeal ultimately led to the Texas Revolution, as Texas, along with several other Mexican states, rebelled and declared itself independent in 1836.
In February 1836, Santa Anna marched into Texas to quell the rebellion, attacking the Alamo, an old Spanish mission in San Antonio, which had served as a military garrison for the Spanish, Mexicans, and Texans. The Alamo fell after a 13-day siege, and Santa Anna's "'take-no-prisoners' policy was initialized", as every man in the fort was either killed or wounded, and the six wounded survivors were executed.
Santa Anna's army then moved eastward to the San Jacinto River, where they were defeated and Santa Anna was captured by General Sam Houston. Santa Anna signed a public treaty ending the war and was sent to Washington, D.C., where he was deposed from power during his absence.
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The Constitution of 1824
The constitution was composed of several articles that outlined the specifics of the Mexican nation. Article 3, for instance, established the Roman Catholic Apostolic religion as the official religion of Mexico, prohibiting the practice of any other religion. Article 4 addressed the government's representative and federal nature, while Article 5 listed the states and territories that comprised the Mexican federation. These included states like Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Texas, as well as territories like Alta California, Baja California, and Colima.
Santa Anna's political career was marked by his shifting allegiances between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. He played a role in both discarding the liberal Constitution of 1824 in 1835 and restoring it in 1847. He assumed the presidency during periods of liberal rule in 1832 and 1847, but ultimately overthrew his liberal colleague Valentín Gómez Farías and sided with the conservatives.
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Santa Anna repeals immigration restrictions
In 1835, Antonio López de Santa Anna repealed the Mexican Constitution of 1824, which gave considerable rights to individual Mexican states. The Constitution was based on a federal government of sovereign states and allowed American settlers in Texas to be exempt from taxes, tariffs, and government services, including defence. Thus, Texans governed themselves.
The repeal was a response to the U.S. attempts to purchase Texas from Mexico. As a result of the repeal, new settlers were not allowed in Texas. This policy change also stemmed from the fact that American settlers in Texas were not paying taxes or tariffs, claiming they were not recipients of any services provided by the Mexican government.
In 1830, the Mexican Congress passed a law stating that no more Americans could immigrate to Texas. This was due to the United States' repeated attempts to buy Texas from Mexico, which made Mexicans suspicious that the settling of Texas was a covert effort to take over the state.
However, in 1832 and 1833, the colonists held two meetings, the Convention of 1832 and the Convention of 1833, to address their grievances. They petitioned for continued exemption from custom duties for another three years and declared that Texas could maintain a stable state government, asking for separation from Coahuila.
Ultimately, Santa Anna and the Congress repealed the immigration restrictions, held the tariff plea in abeyance, and urged the state government to grant Texas a trial by jury. However, no action was taken on the petition for statehood.
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The fall of the First Mexican Empire
The First Mexican Empire was short-lived, lasting from August 1821 to March 1823. It was led by Agustín de Iturbide, a former royalist military commander who switched sides to join the insurgents. He united Spaniards and insurgents under the Plan of Iguala, which promised independence for Mexico as a monarchy and invited a member of Spanish royalty to assume the newly established Mexican throne.
The territory of the Mexican Empire corresponded to the borders of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, excluding Cuba, Santo Domingo, and the Philippines. Central American lands of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala were also annexed to the Empire shortly after its establishment. Under the First Empire, Mexico reached its greatest territorial extent, stretching from northern California to Central America.
However, the empire faced several challenges, including disputes over its legitimacy, conflicts between Congress and the emperor, and a bankrupt national treasury. In October 1822, Iturbide dissolved Congress and replaced it with the National Institutional Junta, composed of his supporters. This move caused him to lose the support of the Mexican Army, which rebelled in favour of restoring Congress. Iturbide was forced to reconvene Congress in March 1823 and offer his abdication. Power was then transferred to a republican provisional government, which abolished the monarchy and established the First Mexican Republic.
Santa Anna played a notable role in the fall of the First Mexican Empire. He joined the fight for independence in 1821 and was rewarded with the command of the port of Veracruz. However, when Iturbide removed him from this position, Santa Anna rose in rebellion against Iturbide in December 1822. He already held significant power in Veracruz and was well on his way to becoming the regional caudillo. In May 1823, after Iturbide's abdication, Santa Anna was sent to command in Yucatán, where he planned an invasion of Cuba.
Santa Anna went on to become well-known for his role in the Texas Revolution, which began when he repealed the Mexican Constitution of 1824 in 1835. The Constitution had given considerable rights to individual Mexican states and was based on a federal government of sovereign states. It allowed American settlers in Texas to be exempt from taxes, tariffs, and government services, so they governed themselves. Santa Anna's repeal of the Constitution ultimately led to Texas declaring its independence in March 1836.
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The Mexican-American War
In 1835, Antonio López de Santa Anna repealed the Mexican Constitution of 1824, which ultimately led to the Texas Revolution. The Constitution had given individual Mexican states considerable rights and was based on "a federal government of sovereign states". It also exempted American settlers in Texas from taxes, tariffs, and government services, including defence, allowing Texans to govern themselves.
Santa Anna's reasoning for the repeal was that American settlers in Texas were not paying taxes or tariffs, claiming they were not recipients of any services provided by the Mexican government, and so new settlers were not allowed there. This was in response to U.S. attempts to purchase Texas from Mexico. The repeal of the Constitution caused Mexico to fall into civil war and Texas to seek independence.
Santa Anna's actions and political career played a significant role in the Mexican-American War. He was known for switching sides between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. He ruled intermittently from 1832 to 1853, overseeing the loss of Texas and a series of military failures during the Mexican-American War. His leadership and determination to fight prolonged the conflict.
The Texas Revolution, which began in 1835, culminated in the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of Goliad, where Santa Anna ordered the execution of approximately 350 Texan prisoners. In March 1836, Texas declared its independence, and on April 21, the Texan Army under Sam Houston scored a resounding victory over Santa Anna's army on the banks of the San Jacinto River. Santa Anna surrendered and agreed to grant Texas independence.
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Frequently asked questions
Santa Anna repealed the Mexican Constitution of 1824 in 1835.
The Mexican Constitution of 1824 was based on "a federal government of sovereign states". It gave individual Mexican states considerable rights and allowed American settlers in Texas to be exempt from taxes, tariffs, and government services.
Santa Anna's repeal of the Constitution led to the Texas Revolution and Texas becoming an independent republic.
