treaty. Humiliated at home and abroad, Santa Anna re-
tired to his home at Manga de Clavo. Two years later, he
returned to public service again when the French began
what historians call the “Pastry War” (1838), demand-
ing compensation for their property destroyed during
Mexico’s fight for independence in 1822. When Mexico
refused, the French blockaded the harbor at Veracruz
and then attacked the Mexican emplacements there.
President Anastasio Bustamante called Santa Anna back
to command the military against the invading French
forces. Santa Anna was able to force a French retreat,
but a cannonball struck him in the leg, which had to be
amputated.
Santa Anna again retired to his estate, but in 1839
a rebellion rose up against President Bustamante, who
called on Santa Anna to crush the rebellion; this was
done in May 1839. Two years later, he became embroiled
in a disagreement with the government and helped to
engineer Bustamante’s downfall. On 10 October 1841,
Santa Anna took control of the government as president.
Serving for a period of three years, he ruled as a military
dictator, raising taxes on the wealthy and the Church.
During this period, Mexico’s economy rapidly deterio-
rated, and with it went Santa Anna’s popularity. On 2
December 1844, the Mexican Congress passed a no-con-
fidence vote, ending his presidency. He was allowed to
keep the extensive properties he had accumulated and
part of his general’s salary if he relinquished all future
claims to the presidency and leave the country for exile
in Venezuela. He accepted this deal but instead left for
Cuba, where he remained a close observer of Mexican
affairs. He watched as several men tried to manage the
economy, with poor results. Meanwhile, in 1845, out-
going U.S. president John Tyler signed a congressional
resolution annexing Texas and making it a part of the
Union. Mexico, which still believed Texas to be Mexican
territory, protested and made it clear they would fight.
Incoming president James K. Polk therefore sent an army
commanded by General Zachary taylor to the border.
At the same time, he sent an emissary to offer $40 million
in exchange for Mexico dropping its claims on Texas.
On 29 December 1845, Texas was formally admit-
ted to the American union. In March 1846, the force led
by Taylor secured its base along the Rio Grande River,
the natural border between Texas and Mexico. Mexico
sent a force of some 1,600 troops to the Rio Grande and
attacked American outposts on 24 April. The following
month, the United States declared a state of war with
Mexico. Santa Anna, still in Cuba, contacted the Polk
administration and offered to end the crisis if the United
States helped him return to Mexico. Polk agreed, and
with American assistance Santa Anna sailed to Veracruz.
However, as soon as he landed on 16 August 1846, he
proclaimed himself the head of the Mexican army and
offered to go to the border to fight the Americans.
This betrayal was to be Santa Anna’s downfall. As
soon as it became known that he would command the
Mexicans, the Americans sent an invasion force to land
at Veracruz. To head off Taylor’s invasion of northern
Mexico, Santa Anna raised a force of some 20,000 sol-
diers and marched to fight the American general. The
two armies met at Buena Vista on 22–23 February 1847.
Although the Mexicans held their own, by the second
day Taylor’s superior army overwhelmed them, and
Santa Anna was forced to fall back toward Mexico City.
Moving south, he encountered the American army led
by Winfield scott—which had landed at Veracruz—at
Cerro Gordo (17–18 April 1847). The Mexican forces,
tired from the battle against Taylor at Buena Vista and
the march south, were no match for the fresh American
army. Attacked on three sides, Santa Anna’s army col-
lapsed: 1,130 Mexicans were killed, with only 63 Ameri-
cans dying in the battle, and Santa Anna was forced to
flee. He tried to defend Mexico City but did not have
the forces to do it, and the city fell on 14 September
1847, ending the war. On 2 February 1848, the Treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, giving the United
States control not only over Texas but areas spanning
what is now the entire American southwest, including
New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and California. In
exchange, Mexico was paid $15 million.
Santa Anna was forced into exile a second time. For
a number of years he desired to return, working with
the French and even his old enemy the United States
to try to make a comeback. He purchased a boat and
attempted an “invasion,” but Mexican authorities ar-
rested him and exiled him again. He moved around
the Caribbean, settling in Cuba and the Dominican
Republic. Finally, the Mexican economy once again
called him home, and in March 1853 the Conservatives
asked him to take the reins of the country. On 20 April
1853, he was sworn in as president for the fifth time.
However, he was only allowed to serve for a single year,
with the Conservative politician Lucas Alamán serving
as Secretary of State. Initially, Santa Anna carried out
the Conservatives’ agenda, lowering taxes and push-SAntA AnnA, Antonio lópez De 0