Independent Mexico

The Conservatives and Clericals who thus came into power indirectly with Santa Anna retained control until 1846 under a centralized form of government. A new Congress discarded fed eralism (Oct. 3, 1835) and framed a centralist Constitution (Dec. 30, 1836), known as the Siete Leyes or Seven Laws. By it the States were converted into departments, ruled by governors ap pointed by the central authority, and popular representation was considerably reduced. Anastasio Bustamante became the first Centralist president. When he failed to satisfy questionable dam age claims of French nationals in Mexico a French fleet in 1838 blockaded the coast, bombarded the fortress of San Juan de Ulua, and temporarily occupied Veracruz. This gave Santa Anna the longed-for opportunity to pose as the country's defender which, in turn, reawakened his political ambitions. Full oppor tunity to realize them, however, was deferred until 1841, when he joined a successful revolution against Bustamante. The Plan of Tacubaya (Sept. 28, 1841), put forward by the revolu tionists, abolished all but the judicial provisions of the Siete Leyes, conferred upon Santa Anna power of reorganizing the administra tion, and provided for a new constituent assembly. When it met in June, 1842, the Federalists were in the majority, much to Santa. Anna's chagrin. Accordingly he retired, leaving the reins to Nico las Bravo. He dissolved the Federalist assembly and convened a hand-picked one which adopted an ultra-centralist Constitution (June 12, 1843). Santa Anna was inaugurated first president under it on Jan. 2, 1844, but because of his maladministration, extravagance and profligacy, was overthrown before the end of the year and exiled. Jose Joaquin Herrera, who succeeded him (Dec. 1844), was a constructive statesman and adopted concilia tory foreign and internal policies but was overthrown (Jan. 1846) by Ultra-Centralists, Monarchists and anti-Americans led by Gen. Mariano Paredes. Seven months later, in order to solidify public opinion during the war with the United States the Federalist Con stitution of 1824 was restored (Aug. 5, 1846). Recalled from his exile to oppose the foreign invaders, Santa Anna was elected presi dent (Dec. 1846) under the Constitution which he had repudiated.

The substitution of a central for a federal form of government was the occasion for uprisings in various parts of Mexico, all of which were finally suppressed except that in Texas, which had been settled principally by colonists from the United States in consequence of contracts granted to immigration agents (empre sarios) to introduce colonists. The first such contract was granted to Moses Austin, in 1821, and was carried out by his son Stephen. Because of the incompatibility of Mexican and American settlers in Texas and their mutual distrust, Texas gradually drifted toward inevitable rebellion. Various specific grievances developed after 1826 that widened the breach, but the pretext for the rebellion of the Texans was the centralization policy inaugu rated by Santa Anna in 1835, culminating in the abolishment by the Mexican Congress of the federal form of government. A pro visional revolutionary government, which professed to be acting in defence of the Constitution of 1824, functioned in Texas from Nov. 3, 1835, until March 1, 1836; on the following day the unqualified declaration of Texan independence was issued. Santa Anna attempted to reduce Texas, showing great severity, but was eventually defeated and captured by Houston at the battle of San Jacinto. There he signed an agreement pledging himself to

work for the recognition of Texan independence upon his return to Mexico. The Mexican Government, however, repudiated Santa Anna, and a nominal state of war continued between Mexico and Texas, whose independence was recognized by the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and England (1837-41).

War with United States, 1846-48.

The Texas question was chiefly responsible for war between the United States and Mexico. Texas had applied for admission into the American Union in 1836 but annexation was delayed by those in the United States who were opposed to acquiring more slave territory. Fearful of British and French influence in Texas, however, the U.S. Congress early in 1845 adopted a resolution providing for annexation. Texas agreed, and on Dec. 29, 1845, was formally admitted to the Union. The Mexican minister withdrew from Washington following the adoption of the annexation resolution and the U.S. minister was recalled from Mexico. Nevertheless, President Polk was con ciliatory, and late in 1845 sent Slidell to Mexico to attempt to settle all differences between the two countries--the chief ones arising from the disputed Texas boundary and the unsettled damage claims of U.S. citizens against Mexico—and also to pur chase, if possible, California and New Mexico. Slidell's mission might have been successful, in part, but for the triumph of the war party in Mexico under Paredes. It was not until President Polk was informed that Mexico desired war, that he ordered American troops into the disputed region between the Nueces and the Rio Grande rivers. Hostilities inevitably followed and a state of war with Mexico was declared by the U.S. in May 1846.

The original plans of the U.S. general staff called for (I) an invasion by Gen. Taylor of northern Mexico, which it was hoped would overawe the Mexicans and induce them to come to terms; (2) the military occupation by Gen. Kearny of the territory from New Mexico to California, which was to be held as an indemnity; and (3) the blockade of both coasts of Mexico by the United States fleet. The two last-named plans materialized fully; in addition, Gen. Doniphan led a side expedition from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Chihuahua and Monterrey. Gen. Taylor's campaign, however, won all military engagements but failed of its object. The Mexicans, instead of submitting as the American army ad vanced, put up a vigorous defence, and at Buena Vista, on Feb. 22 and 23, 1847, Santa Anna opposed the Americans in the best fought engagement of the war and the last one in the north. When the spirit of the Mexicans was revealed, a campaign from Vera cruz to Mexico City under Gen. Scott was decided upon. Vera cruz was captured after a three-weeks' siege (March 7 to 29, 1847), Santa Anna was decisively defeated at Cerro Gordo (April 18) and Gen. Scott, with greatly superior forces fought his way into the Valley of Mexico, and entered Mexico City Sept. 13, Peace was formally re-established with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, concluded on Feb. 2, 1848. By it the Rio Grande was fixed as the southern boundary of Texas and the territory north of an irregular line extending from El Paso, by way of the Gila river to the Pacific ocean, was ceded to the United States; in return the United States paid Mexico $15,000,000 and assumed all claims of her citizens against Mexico.