Turmoil and Change in Mexico 28 4 Notes

Turmoil and Change in Mexico 28. 4 Notes

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna • Main Mexican Politician during early 19 th century • President four times between 1833 -1855 • Led the army during Mexican-American War

Texas Revolt • 1820 s Mexico encouraged American citizens to move to Mexican territory of Texas • in exchange for cheap land the Anglos promised to obey Mexico’s laws • tensions grew over slavery and religion • Mexico refused to grant self-government • Stephen Austin, a leading American, encouraged a revolt in 1835

• Santa Anna won early battles ▫ Alamo • At Battle of San Jacinto Santa Anna was defeated and captured • Texan leader Sam Houston released Santa Anna after he promised independence for Texas • Santa Anna returned to Mexico in 1836 and was ousted from power

Mexican American War • Santa Anna regained power and fought the US again in 1845, when the US annexed Texas • Dispute at the border led to Mexican-American War=over in 2 years!

• 1848 signed Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, gave the US the northern third of Mexico including California, American Southwest

Benito Juarez • During mid-19 th century Benito Juarez strongly influenced Mexican politics • He was a liberal reformer, came from poor Zapotec Indian family • Opened a law office in Oaxaca • Elected to city legislature • 1847 served as governor of the state of Oaxaca

Juarez Works for Reform • Late 1840 s and early 1850 s Juarez worked to start a liberal reform movement called La Reforma: goals were ▫ redistribution of land ▫ separation of church and state ▫ increased educational opportunities for the poor • 1853 Santa Anna sent Juarez and other leaders in to exile • 1855 rebellion brought Santa Anna down, Juarez and others able to return to Mexico

• Major issue was that rich landowners kept everyone else in cycle of debt and poverty • Liberal government spoke out about redistributing land, alarmed conservative upperclass Mexicans • These upper class Mexicans launched a rebellion against the liberal gov’t in 1858 • After 3 years of civil war the liberals won, Juarez became president after his election in 1861

The French Invade Mexico • Exiled conservatives plotted with Europe to reconquer Mexico • 1862 French ruler Napoleon III sent a large army to Mexico, within 18 months had taken over • Napoleon appointed Austrian Archduke Maximiliam to rule Mexico as emperor, Juarez continued to fight • 1867 Napoleon ordered army to leave, Maximilian was caught and executed • Juarez reelected president in 1867, returned to reforms, rebuilt the country, promoted foreign trade, opened new roads, set up ntl education system, etc. • 1872 Juarez died, but left his country a legacy of relative peace, progress, and reform