Editing History of Mexico (section)

===Political instability===
{{Main|Centralist Republic of Mexico}}
[[File:Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna 1852.jpg|thumb|upright|General [[Antonio López de Santa Anna|Santa Anna]] known for his leadership during the Texas Revolution, Mexican-American War, and turbulent periods of Mexican history marked by political instability and territorial losses.]]

In much of Spanish America, soon after its independence, military strongmen or [[caudillos]] dominated politics, and this period is often called "The Age of Caudillismo." In Mexico, from the late 1820s to the mid-1850s, the period is often called the "Age of Santa Anna," named for the general and politician [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]]. Liberals (federalists) asked Santa Anna to overthrow the conservative President [[Anastasio Bustamante]]. After he did, he declared General [[Manuel Gómez Pedraza]] (who won the election of 1828) president. Elections were held after that, and Santa Anna took office in 1832. He served as president for 11 non-consecutive terms.<ref>Scheina, Robert L. (2002) ''Santa Anna: a curse upon Mexico'' Brassey's, Washington, D.C., {{ISBN|1-57488-405-0}}</ref> Constantly changing his political beliefs, in 1834 Santa Anna abolished the [[1824 Constitution of Mexico|federal constitution]], causing insurgencies in the southeastern state of [[Yucatán (state)|Yucatán]] and the northernmost portion of the northern state of [[Coahuila y Tejas]]. Both areas sought independence from the central government. Negotiations and the presence of Santa Anna's army caused Yucatán to recognize Mexican [[sovereignty]]. Then, Santa Anna's army turned to the northern rebellion.

The inhabitants of Tejas declared the [[Republic of Texas]] independent from Mexico on 2 March 1836 at [[Washington-on-the-Brazos]]. They called themselves Texans and were led mainly by recent [[Anglo-Americans|Anglo-American]] settlers. At the [[Battle of San Jacinto]] on April 21, 1836, [[Texas|Texan]] militiamen defeated the Mexican army and captured General Santa Anna. The Mexican government refused to recognize Texas' independence.