Editing Santa Cruz, New Mexico (section)

===Mexican period===
Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth century, frontier settlement at Santa Cruz de la Cañada had produced a rustic and self-reliant population. With news of [[Mexican independence]] in 1821, the town was hardly affected with the exception of the new government's laws and office appointments. Trade with the United States had been forbidden under the former Spanish government, but now enterprising Anglo-Americans began pouring down the [[Santa Fe Trail]], bringing a new prosperity to the region

The [[Revolt of 1837 (New Mexico)|Revolt of 1837]] was centered in Santa Cruz de la Cañada. In 1835, Mexico's new autocratic and unpopular provincial governor, [[Albino Pérez]], was met on his arrival in [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]] with suspicion and opposition, on the basis of rumors of aggressive new tax collections. Following his defeat in Texas, President [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]], with his "[[Siete Leyes]]," was moving toward government centralization, an increased ability to tax, and eventually to military dictatorship.

When Pérez had Juan José Esquibel, the ''alcalde'' (mayor) of Santa Cruz, jailed in 1837, influential members of the community raised a militia. Pérez led a force in response which was defeated by the rebels at Black Mesa near [[San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico|San Ildefonso Pueblo]] before he reached Santa Cruz. The rebels beheaded Pérez and killed some of his government officials, then appointed [[genizaro]] José González as new governor. Later, utilizing the support of Anglo merchants in Santa Fe, New Mexico native [[Manuel Armijo]] defeated of the rebels at Puertocito Pojoaque, east of Santa Cruz de la Cañada.