As a ruler, Santa Anna attempted to maintain control of his ‘empire’. He sought to maintain control using several methods. He nationalized religious institutions, (e.g. took over ALL the churches), implemented terrorist policies (condoning ethnic cleansing and allowing his troops to rape, kill and plunder at will), placed his closest friends and associates in key positions, shut down State governments, re-interpreted the Constitution to fit his needs, re-wrote the constitution to meet his needs, pursued an aggressive gun control policy, maintained a policy of murdering without trial and incarcerated his critics. Although he was a 19th century ruler, many of his policies are eerily similar to 21st century tyrants.

The Texians learned about his deceitful ways first-hand. The “trust me, I’m from the government and I am here to help you” talk gave them Goliad. We need to remember what trusting the government produces. The colonists ran away from Santa Anna for a reason. Although many history books portray Santa Anna a no threat to them, those who lived at that time knew better. They were fleeing for their lives. They knew that his men would rape and kill at will. They remembered what he did in San Antonio after the Battle of Medina. They recalled how he was a part of keeping the women cooking for the troops during the day and servicing them at night under threat of death. They remembered the mass executions that he conducted in the city. They knew the real Santa Anna rather than the one of the white washed history books. It would do us well to remember what the real Santa Anna was like and what tyrants do once they are entrenched in their positions.

Liberty for Texas and the South!

J Murrah

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Culture, ethnic cleansing, gun control, Mexican history, San Antonio, San Antonio history, Texas history

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