Santa Anna's legacy: caudillismo in early republican Mexico

Abstract

Antonio L¿pez de Santa Anna dominated Mexican history from the 1820s until 1855, a chaotic era for that nation. During that time, he utilized ceremonies and monuments in a largely unsuccessful attempt to maintain the loyalty of the population. Mexicans had witnessed festivities designed for such purposes since the colonial era. After independence, both centralists and federalists created their own holidays to strengthen the legitimacy of their governments. Santa Anna continued some rituals from the colonial period, and borrowed ideas from his contemporaries in order to foster a sense of familiarity. But he also invented new celebrations designed specifically to remind people of his importance to the nation, such as the September 11 commemoration of his 1829 victory at Tampico. Although such ceremonies helped citizens remember his past victories in times of national crisis, Mexicans focused on more routine problems, such as flooding, when no internal or external threat loomed. At such times, they resented the extravagant use of federal and local funds on holidays and statues in honor of Santa Anna.