what did santa anna do that made himself and his army easy to defeat?

Biography of Santa Anna, General and President of Mexico

ANTONIO 50�PEZ DE SANTA ANNA (1794-1876)

Santa Anna was born in Jalapa, Veracruz, in 1794, the son of a wealthy Spanish colonial family. At an early age, Santa Anna showed no interest in schooln or working in the lucritive merchantile manufacture. When Santa Anna turned 16, he dropped out of the merchantile business organisation and joined the Vera Cruz Infantry regiment. He before long realized this was his true passion. Near immediately, Santa Anna was sent to activity in the 1810 Mexican Revolution. Before long, Santa Anna was assigned to a calvary unit of measurement which was known for barbarous charges, hazard taking, and the execution of all prisoners. This early on training would leave a lasting impression on Santa Anna and he essentially followed these aforementioned military tactics throughout his career.

TEXAS REBELLIAN AT COAHUILA

In 1813, Santa Anna'due south unit was sent to Coahuila-Texas to suppress a rebellion there. They brutally put downward the rebellion and killed all prisoners. Word of the Mexican brutality spread throughout the Texas region. Over the coming years, Snata Anna continued to rise in power to the very top. By 1821, Santa Anna was promoted to Lt. Colonel and so Colonel by the Spanish Viceroy.

SANTA ANNA JOINS MEXICAN REBELLIAN

In 1821, Santa Anna switched sides and joined with the Mexicans in their revolution confronting the Castilian.

When Santa Anna defeated a Castilian general in boxing, he was promoted him Primary of the Ground forces'south 11th Sectionalization.By 1822, Santa Anna was promoted to brigadier full general and made commander of the Vera Cruz province.

General SANTA ANNA

By age 28, Santa Anna achieved the rank of Full general and started acquiring land (and eventually would own a big hacienda). He hung around gambling establishments and courted willing women.

In 1825, Santa Anna married a fourteen-year-one-time girl named In�s Garc�a , daughter of a prosperous Spaniard and sired 4 children. He acquired more land and became a prosperous admirer farmer. However, he was soon bored with his marriage,and family and turned to wenching and gambling. He still missed the military life and he was no longer a national political factor.

By 1827, Santa Anna was dorsum in the militaryhelping put down a bourgeois rebellion in 1827-28 led by vice president Nicol�due south Bravo and the Scottish rite Masonic lodges. as a advantage, Santa Anna was named governor of Vera Cruz. In the 1828 elections, notwithstanding, the states elected the conservative Manuel Pedraza every bit president and the liberal Vicente Guerrero, the incumbent authorities's candidate, as vice president. Santa Anna drove Pedraza from power. Guerrero became president with the conservative Anastatio Bustamante as vice president.

Santa Anna was promoted to division full general, the highest available war machine rank in the Mexican regular army. In 1829, Santa Anna defeated an invading Castilian army at Tampico. The next calendar month he returned to his dwelling house and, in early 1830, resigned his political and armed forces assignments. Guerrero refused to discard his wartime emergency powers; his conservative vice president, Anastasio Bustamante overthrew him in 1830, imposed a dictatorship, and persecuted liberals. Guerrero, the old independence warhorse, was executed in 1831. The outburst following this fell act told Santa Anna which side would win.

EL PRESIDENTE

In 1832, Santa Anna raised an regular army and overthrew the government. And then, pretending he had an illness, Santa Anna returned home to Jalapa to wait for the 1833 presidential election. He knew that he was the logical selection to govern the troubled country, for he was the virtually popular and powerful man in the country. Santa Anna won the presidency in 1833 just he had fiddling involvement in governing. Once again, he pretended to be ill and dropped out of public view. And then in 1834, Santa Anna returned to the Presidency only to drib out again in 1835. At this time, he returned to Jalapa to pb an army into Zacatecas to suppress another revolt in May.

By 1835, Santa Anna once again established himself every bit a dictator in Mexico. His push for more power over the Anglo-American colonists and Tejanos alike, which resulted in the Texas revolution and cry for independence.

Another REVOLT IN TEXAS

In December of 1835, San Antonio de Bexar was under the control of Mexican General Perfecto de Cos with about 1200 soldiers from Mexico. For nigh two months, Texas volunteers had camped about the town in a virtual collision with Cos.

BEN MILAM LEADS THE Accuse

The stalemate ended, however, when i of the Texas leaders, Ben Milam, returned from a cursory absenteeism to find that the Texans were about to retreat to Goliad.

Old Ben Milam was strongly opposed to the reteat and called out to the Texans with his now-famous words, "Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio?" Some 300 volunteers responded.

Starting before daybreak on Dec 5, the Texans, led by Milam and Frank W. Johnson, began their siege. Against heavy odds in both men and artillery, the Texans skirmished for the adjacent 2 days. On December 7, Milam was shot and killed. The death of their leader seemed to inspire the Texans as they engaged in house-to-business firm combat that continued for two more days.

THE TEXANS ARE VICTORIOUS

At daybreak on December nine, after four days of fighting, Cos signalled a Mexican truce. In commutation for the parole and return of Cos and his men to Mexico, the Texans gained all of the public property, guns and ammunition in San Antonio.

When word of the victory by the rebelling anglos reached Santa Anna, he immediately organized an regular army and headed for San Antonio to put down the rebellious Texians.

THE Delinquent SCRAPE

Discussion that Santa Anna himself was leading an army to trounce the Texas rebellion cause panic back in Texas as scores of Texans packed what they could into covered wagons and left their homes in terror fleeing the approaching ground forces. This became known as the Runaway Scrape and occurred just prior to the fall of the Alamo.

THE SIEGE OF THE ALAMO

Santa Anna'south army arrived in San Antonio about the 23rd of February in 1836. As news of Santa Anna�s arroyo spread, some 145 Texans in the surface area took refuge in the fortified grounds of an sometime mission known equally the Alamo, under the joint control of William B. Travis (for the regular army) and Jim Bowie (for the volunteers).

Over the following two weeks, the Mexican forces lay siege to the Alamo while reenforcements strengthened the Mexican army to over 2000 troops. During the same period, a few reinforcements for the Texans answered Travis' famous Appeal for Aid and managed to penetrate enemy lines and enter the Alamo grounds, bringing the total strength of the Alamo defenders to about 189 men.

Battle OF THE ALAMO (March half dozen, 1836)

After heavy bombardment of the Alamo by cannon fire, the Mexicans under General Santa Anna stormed the Alamo on the morning time of March six, 1836. Nearly 1,800 assault troops advanced into range but concentrated cannon and rifle burn down,from the Alamo walls acquired the Mexican soldiers to halt and reform. And then they continued to drive frontward. Col. Travis, among the start to die in the Alamo. Under overwhelming odds, the Texians were forced back off the walls of the Alamo where they withdrew to the dim rooms of the Long Billet. There some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand fighting occurred. The assail lasted a little over an hour and an estimated 7 Texians survived the boxing. Truthful to course, Santa Anna ordered their execution. Currently, 189 defenders appear on the official list, only ongoing enquiry may increase the last tally to as many as 257.

SURVIVORS OF THE ALAMO

Susanna Dickenson, the wife of i of the defenders, her baby, and a retainer of Travis were spared to aid spread the give-and-take of how futile it was to resist against the powerful Mexican army. Though Santa Anna had his victory, the common Mexican soldiers paid the price with killed and wounded estimated at about 600.

GOLIAD MASSACRE

Santa Anna and his ground forces and so gear up out in Search of Sam Houston�southward army but met with little success. On March 27, 1836, the Mexicans captured Goliad and over 300 unarmed Texan prisoners were massacred.

Sam Houston and his meager regular army of Texas of effectually 700 untrained soldiers retreated to east Texas in the leap of 1836. This tactic immune more time for Houston to build upwardly his ground forces with volunteers that were arriving well-nigh daily and to give the men time for much needed preparation.

Nevertheless, Houston�s troops were becoming increasingly impatient as they made their way through the Big Thicket in east Texas nether the adept guide of the Alabama Caushadda Indians who knew the region like the back of their hands.

Meanwhile, Santa Anna with his big army and heavy cannon became bogged down in the wetlands of east texas. This led to a tactical mistake. He carve up his army up into several smaller armies and led a group of approximately a grand men toward the coast to block whatsoever possible escape of Houston�s regular army by sea.

BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO

On the morning of April 19, 1836, Houston and his army reached Buffalo Bayou, a few miles southeast of present day Houston. The Texans crossed over and marched down the correct banking company of Buffalo Bayou to inside half a mile of where the Bayou joined with the San Jacinto River. Here, the Texas ground forces prepared their defenses on the edge of a grove of copse. Their rear was protected by timber and the bayou, while in front of them them was an open up prairie.

On the post-obit morning (April 20), Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna came marching beyond the prairie in battle array. Santa Anna was in no bustle as he had sent out runners to discover some of his scattered armies and fourth dimension to get more cannons in for the battle.

The Texans fired a volley from the "Twin Sisters" artillery which brought Santa Anna�s ground forces to a sudden halt.The Mexicans fell back to a dodder of copse a quarter of a mile away where Santa Anna formed a line of battle. Colonel Sidney Sherman, at the head of the Texas cavalry, charged the Mexican regular army, but accomplished little except to inspire the Texans with fresh enthusiasm for the following day.

Santa Anna was in no hurry every bit he had sent out runners to find some of his scattered armies and he needed time to get more cannons to arrive for the coming battle.

TEXANS VICTORIOUS IN BATTLE FOR INDEPENDENCE AT SAN JACINTO

On the morning of Apr 21, 1836, the Texas army numbering about 750 men were about to exist engaged past 1500 of Santa Anna�south finest troups. Santa Anna was over confident because of the relatively piece of cake successes he had enjoyed at the Alamo and Goliad missions where he had vast superiority in manpower and cannons and he failed to take into business relationship the strategy that Sam Houston put into play.

Without waiting for Mexican reenforcements to arrive , Houston sent Deafened Smith, the celebrated Texas spy, with two or 3 men, to destroy Vince'due south bridge over which the Mexican army had passed, which cut off any escape for the Mexicans. When Houston's long awaited order to accelerate was given, the Texans did not hesitate. When within seventy yards the word "burn" was given, the Texan shouts of "Call back the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad" rang along the unabridged line.

Inside 18 minutes, 700 Mexicans were slain, with another 730 taken equally prisoners. The battle for Texas was won. They attacked Santa Anna's ground forces while it was sleeping, and, in a boxing lasting just 18 minutes, routed the Mexican army and captured Santa Anna. To obtain his release, he signed two treaties, recognizing Texas independence and promising never to fight Texas again.

DEFEATED, GENERAL SANTA ANNA RETURNS TO MEXICO

The defeat at San Jacinto and the subsequent loss of Texas price Santa Anna the presidency, for he returned to Mexico in disgrace. His assertions that the treaties meant nothing because he had signed under duress and but as a private citizen carried little weight. Mexico repudiated the treaties merely the U.S. recognized Texas independence in 1837; Mexico refused to do then.

Downward Only NOT OUT

Santa Anna was down but not out. In 1838 a ludicrous skirmish took place which became known as the Pastry War. A French baker in United mexican states Metropolis claimed his store had been looted and demanded bounty from the Mexican authorities. He was backed upwards past the French government, which was trying to pressure Mexico into a trade agreement, and a bombardment of Veracruz ensued. Santa Anna, who was among the defenders, lost his right leg beneath the knee in the date. Though a trunk part may have been lost, honour was regained. Employing his skills at self-promotion to the hilt, Santa Anna became the "hero of Veracruz" and the San Jacinto debacle was forgotten.

SANTA ANNA REGAINS DICTATORSHIP

On October 6, 1841, Santa Anna rode into United mexican states City in a luxurious railroad vehicle drawn by four white horses and causeless power as dictator. This time he ruled in person, with his greed equaled only past his extravagance. To raise money, he exponentially raised taxes and sold phony mining shares to foreign investors. But the increased revenues were frittered away by such extravagances every bit outfitting a uniformed individual army and giving an endless round of fiestas, most of them in his own honor. The comedy came to end in 1842 when the treasury dried up and the army was unable to collect its pay. Forced out by a rebellion, Santa Anna went into hiding in the rugged mountains of his native land. Apprehended by government troops in 1845, he was exiled to Cuba and forbidden from reentering United mexican states for ten years.

US-MEXICAN WAR(1846)

Santa Anna began corresponding with U. S. President James Chiliad. Polk and in 1846 persuaded him that he was the only man who could solve the dispute over Texas. Polk, taking the bait, ordered American warships to allow prophylactic passage for Santa Anna to state at Veracruz. No sooner had he set foot on shore than Santa Anna double crossed Polk and began to organize resistance confronting the U. South.

When war began, the president of United mexican states was Santa Anna's onetime vice president, Valent�n G�mez Far�equally. G�mez Far�as promptly named Santa Anna generalissimo of Mexico's armed forces. During the war, Santa Anna remained truthful to form. Using his superb organizing ability, he raised an ground forces of 18,000 despite a depleted treasury and came within a whisker of defeating General Zachary Taylor at Buena Vista. Nonetheless his vanity resulted in a crucial defeat confronting the regular army of Winfield Scott marching on Mexico City. Wanting to grunter all the glory, Santa Anna pulled his forces out so some other general would not get credit for a successful defence force of the capital.

Santa Anna was once again exiled but returned to Mexico in 1866 and tried to ingratiate himself with Maximilian past proclaiming himself a monarchist. Merely Maximilian, more liberal than he has been given credit for, sent him packing. He returned again in 1867, when Ju�rez was in ability. Ju�rez, who had once been jailed by Santa Anna, returned the favor earlier again sending Santa Anna into exile.

DEATH OF SANTA ANNA, July 20, 1876

Though Santa Anna never once again regained ability, he was allowed to return to Mexico in 1874. The commencement thing he did was to demand a large alimony on grounds of "by services to the nation." In refusing the petition, the regime must accept felt similar that mythical estimate who hears the appeal of the "orphan" who has killed his parents. Santa Anna spent his last three years living on the bounty of his son-in-law. He died on July 20, 1876.

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