Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, was born in Mexico on 21 February 1794. As a young military officer, he supported Emperor Agustin de Iturbide, and at one time courted the emperor's sister. He later rebelled against the government, gained considerable backing. By 1833, he was elevated to president of Mexico in a democratic election. He soon determined, however, that Mexico was not ready for democracy and pronounced himself dictator.
Santa Anna was remembered as a particularly ruthless opponent by the Texans. Despite this, he was allowed to return to Mexico after his capture at the Battle of San Jacinto.
After his return to Mexico, Santa Anna participated in the Mexican War and in 1853 sold territory to the United States . He was later exiled from Mexico, but allowed to return a few years before his death in 1876.

The End Of The Mexican American War

The war officially ended on February 2, 1848, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Negotiated by Nicholas Trist, the treaty ceded to the United States the land that now comprises the states of California, Utah, and Nevada, as well as parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado. In exchange for this land, the United States paid Mexico $15,000,000. Mexico also forfeited all rights to Texas and the border was permanently established at the Rio Grande. The American victory confirmed most citizens’ belief in Manifest Destiny and the nation’s expansion westward.Santa Anna and General Juan N. Pérez were killed. In a fit of rage Santa Anna slapped General Terrés and relieved him of command for losing the Belén Gate. In his memoirs Santa Anna branded Terrés as a traitor and made him the scapegoat for the defeat at Mexico City.

The Boy Heroes

The Mexican-American War was in its final chapters when the Battle of Chapultepec took place. The date was September 13, 1847 and American forces were quickly advancing on Chapultepec Castle. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who was in charge of forces in Mexico City, recognized the strategic advantage that Chapultepec Hill held. Geographically, its value was enormous as it position protected Mexico City on its west side from invaders.Unfortunately, there were not enough resources available for its defense. Rising some 200 feet above the surrounding landscape, the site was naturally fortified. However, American forces greatly outnumbered their Mexican counterparts, both in manpower and gunpowder. Their names were: teniente Juan de la Barrera, and cadets Agustín Melgar, Juan Escutia, Vicente Suárez, Francisco Márquez and Fernando Montes de Oca. One by one they fell; when one was left Juan Escutia, and the U.S. forces were about to kill him, he grabbed the Mexican flag, wrapped it around himself and jumped off the castle point to prevent the enemy from taking it. It is said that the American commander saluted the body of Escutia wrapped in the Mexican flag.

TimeLine Mexican American War

Fort Brown, Texas (March 1846)

Battle of Palo Alto (May 8, 1846)

Battle of Resaca de la Palma (May 9, 1846)

Battle of Monterrey (Sept. 21-23, 1846)

Battle of Buena Vista (Feb. 22-23, 1847)

Siege of Veracruz (March 9-27, 1847)

Battle of Cerro Gordo (April 17-18, 1847)

Battle of Contreras (Aug. 19, 1847)

Battle of Churubusco (Aug. 20, 1847)

Battle of Molino del Rey (Sept. 8, 1847)

Battle of Chapultepec (Sept. 12, 1847)

The Fall of Mexico City (Sept. 13, 1847)

Treaty Of Guadalupe

In November 1835, the northern part of the Mexican state of Coahuila-Tejas declared itself in revolt against Mexico's new centralist government headed by President Antonio López de Santa Anna. By February 1836, Texans declared their territory to be independent and that its border extended to the Rio Grande rather than the Rio Nueces that Mexicans recognized as the dividing line. Although the Texans proclaimed themselves citizens of the Independent Republic of Texas on April 21, 1836 following their victory over the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto, Mexicans continued to consider Tejas a rebellious province that they would reconquer someday.
In December 1845, the U.S. Congress voted to annex the Texas Republic and soon sent troops led by General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande (regarded by Mexicans as their territory) to protect its border with Mexico. The inevitable clashes between Mexican troops and U.S. forces provided the rationale for a Congressional declaration of war on May 13, 1846.

General Taylor

Being fully aware of the hostile feelings of the Mexicans, President Polk ordered (July, 1845) General Zachary Taylor, then in command of the United States troops in the Southwest, to go to Texas and take a position as near the Rio Grande as prudence would allow. This force, about 1,500 strong, was called the Army of Occupation for the defense of Texas.

In September Taylor formed a camp at Corpus Christi, and there remained during the autumn and winter. He was ordered, Jan. 13, 1846, to move from his camp at Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande, opposite the Spanish city of Matamoros, because Mexican troops were gathering in that direction.

Beginning of Mexican American War

Mexico war with The annexation of Texas caused an immediate rupture between the United States and Mexico, for the latter claimed Texas as a part of her territory, notwithstanding its independence had been acknowledged by the United States, England, France, and other governments. When Congress had adopted the joint resolution for the annexation of Texas to the United States, General Almonte. The Mexican minister at Washington, protested against the measure and demanded his passports. On June 4 following the President of Mexico (Herrera) issued a proclamation declaring the right of Mexico to the Texan territory, and his determination to defend it by arms, if necessary. At the same time there existed another cause for serious dispute between the United States and Mexico.