Santa Anna's Deal

      From his exile in Havana Cuba, former Mexican President General Santa Anna had been communicating with the United States about the Mexican-American War.  The General insisted that the Mexican government would only cooperate with the U.S. if the U.S. was aggressive during the conflict.   President Polk had sent an envoy to Cuba to negotiate a top secret deal with the Mexican General.

     If the United States guaranteed Santa Anna safe passage back into Mexico, he assured President Polk that he would be able to negotiate a peace with the United States and put and end to the conflict.  Santa Anna also agreed to let the United States obtain the territory of Alto California in exchange for a financial settlement.  Once the two parties had reached an agreement Santa Anna boarded a ship bound for Mexico that could get through the U.S. blockade without being harassed.

    Polk desperately wanted a quick end to the fighting and went as far as to negotiate a deal and his controversial bargain with Santa Anna shows how badly he wanted California.  Polk's desperation would prove to be a bad decision when General Santa Anna goes back on his promise and once he is back in control of Mexico he aggressively continues the fighting against the U.S.

    During the war Santa Anna would view some of his military commanders as potential rivals for power.  During the defense of Mexico City, General Santa Anna refused to assist General Vallencia's forces.  Vallencia's success would threaten Santa Anna's power so while Vallencia's men faced the brunt of an American attack, Santa Anna watched his rival get beaten by his enemy.

   Here is a link to all of the notes on the Mexican-American War.

Tomorrow, the Reading and the Questions are due.

  Here is the link to the History Channel Mexican-American War documentary we watched in class.