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[2ndKenzie]

Turmoil in Mexican Government • Mexican government had enormous difficulty maintaining control over their northern territories • This was mainly because of Civil war and religious turmoil • Mexicans believed that they never really lost Texas, it was just a rebellious state that they would later reconquer Response to Annexation of Texas • In doing this, the US inherited Texas border dispute with Mexico • This eventually led to the start of the Mexican-American war in 1846 • During the war, the US captured additional territory (Mexican Cession of 1848) • There continued to be territory disputes with Texas, the federal government and the New Mexico territory was resolved with the Compromise of 1850 The Fall of Santa Anna • After Mexico lost the war against Texas, Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco • The Treaty recognized Texas’ independence • There was a new Mexican government that said Santa Anna wasn’t the president and said that the treaty was void • Santa Anna went into exile • He later talked to Andrew Jackson who brought Santa Anna back to his Mexican home • He rose back into power when the previous president was making people angry • He became president again • He wanted Mexico to have more money so he raised taxes • People got mad at him so they locked him in jail • He became the general of the army again to fight in the Mexican-American War • Santa Anna lost and went back into exile • Rebels wanted Santa Anna to come back to Mexico so he became presidenta gain • During this presidency he sold land to the US • He was overthrown again La Reforma • Characterized by liberal reform • It modernized Mexico and made it a national state • Land reform/redistribution • Separation of church and state • Wanted to increase education for the poor • Mexico fought the church by limiting the traditional land holdings of the church • This revitalized the market with land Juarez Rises to Power • Benito Juarez is remembered as being a progressive reformer • He was dedicated to democracy, equal rights for his national’s indigenous peoples. • Also, his antipathy toward organized religion, especially the Catholic Church, and what he regarded as defense of national sovereignty • The period of his leadership is known in Mexican history as La Reforma del Norte • He constituted a liberal political and social revolution with major instructional consequences. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • Brought an end to the Mexican – American War • The treaty was named after the town it was signed in (Guadalupe Hidalgo) • Signed on Feb 2nd, 1848 • When Mexico was defeated with the fall of the capital, Mexico City, in 1847, the Medican govt. surrendered • This began the negotiation period between the two • After two failed attempts to negotiate a treaty with Santa Anna, the US was determined that the only way to deal with Mexico was to conquer them Nicholas Trist • He was the negotiator for the US • The Mexican government had named its special commission to negotiate • Against the president’s recall, Trist negotiated the peace treaty in defiance of the president The Terms • Mexico ceded to the United States Upper California and New Mexico • America got everything gained everything to the southwest – Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, etc. • Mexico relinquished all claims to Texas and recognized the Rio Grande as the southern boundary with the United States • Polk chose to forward the treaty to the Senate • Senate barely ratified the treaty Davy Crocket • Died March 6th, 1836 in the Alamo • Was a three time congressman • Was a soldier and a hunter • Leader of the Tennesse volunteers – group of 65 men from TN who all went and fought at the Alamo Stephen Austin • Known as the father of Texas • Very successful in this colonization – colonization of Texas • Brought 500 families to the area • Has many towns and stuff named after him • He was to try and persuade the Mexican into giving Texas self-government • When he got out he got approval and support from the US government and army • He became leader of citizens in Texas when he was let out of prison • When he ran for president he lost • San Houston beat him – would lead Texas to Independence • Houston was president of Texas – Austin was secretary of state Santa Anna • Sometimes called Napoleon of the West • Mexican political leader, general and 11 time president • Led army to victory at the Alamo • He conquered and killed many Texans and pushed forward • Started with two small weaves that the Alamo held off • Wealthy land owner • Had form political views • He was president and military leader for a span of 40 years • Post Mexican War: After the war, Santa Anna lived in Exile in Cuba, Columbia and the US, come back, fail, exiled, REPEAT. James Boyle Mexico Fighting for Independence from Spain • The struggle for Mexican independence dates back to the decades after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, when martin Cortes (son of Herman Cortes) • Martin Cortes led a revolt against the Spanish colonial government in order to eliminate privileges for the conquistadors. (His mother was not Herman’s wife but his interpreter.) Conspiracy of the Machetes • Pedro de la Portilla was the leader • In 1799, he arranged a meeting with about 20 other powerless youths • The meeting discussed the situation that Criollos found themselves in, in relation to Peninsulares (Criollos were Europeans, born in America and Peninsulares were Europeans born in Spain. • Those present agreed to rise in arms to rid the country of Peninsulares. • The plan agreed on was to free prisoners and with them, storm the viceory’s palace, thus capturing high officials and funds • The conspirators then intended to proclaim the independence of Mexico, declare war on Spain and kill or expel the Peninsulares • To accomplish this, they were counting on 1,000 pieces of silver, two pistels and some 50 cutlasses and machetes. • RESULTS: FAILURE. Critos de Dolores • Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a local priest and member of a group of educated Criollos met in saloons and in 1810 arrived at the conclusion that a revolt against the colonial government • September 16th, 1810 he declared independence from the Spanish crown and war against the government in what was known as the Grito de Dolores. • October 30th, Miguel Hidalgo’s army encountered Spanish resistance at the Battle of Monte de las Cruces, fought them and achieved victory • However, the rebel army failed to defeat the large and heavily armed Spanish army in Mexico City • The surviving rebels fled to the US – Mexican border but were met by the Spanish. They were executed and their Hidalgo’s head was displayed to the public Sides in the Battle • Patriots: • Mexican Insurgents • Europeans and volunteers after 1819 • Mexican ex-royalists • Army of the Three Guarantees • Royalists: • Spanish royals before 1821 • Mexican royalists For the next 10 years… • The Mexicans were being held in check by the Spanish • Mexico was about to give up and listen to their motherland Spain when…. Change in Fortunes • In 1820, when the Royalist general Iturbide changed sides and joined the rebels • He feared that Spain would fall into liberal hands • Iturbide brought the Royalist army to his side, and then declared himself emperor, but his reign was exceedingly short • He was overthrown by Santa Anna after only a year, and Guadalupe Victoria was elected the first president of the Mexican Republic Spain Tries to Regain Mexico • Battle of Tampico • Mexican defeat Spanish • On July 21st, 1827 a force of 1500 Mexicans under Santa Anna laid siege to 3,000 Spanish and Cuban soldiers, under Barradas, who landed in Tampico, with the intention of overthrowing the Mexican government • The Spaniards were cut off from reinforcements and surrendered September 11th Results of the Battle for Mexican Independence • First Mexican Empire established • Spain loses Mexico and loses a lot of respect from the world