Today in Texas History we celebrate San Jacinto Day. On April 21, 1836, General Sam Houston led the Texan army to victory over the forces of Mexican President/General Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón – aka Santa Ana – at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Santa Ana was among the first caudillos (military leaders) during Mexico’s tumultuous early history as a republic. While to many Mexicans he was heroic, history has a different opinion.
Under his presidency Mexico lost about half of all the territory it started with following a successful revolt against Spain. For Mexican nationals this was bad news; but it was good news for people who eschewed tyranny. Under his bungling leadership the Republic of Texas was born and vast land holdings were ceded to the United States of America in 1848, land that would become the states of California, Utah, Nevada entirely. Ceded lands also became parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
The spirit of Santa Ana manifests in contemporary U.S. politics as our elected president vicariously lives out his lifelong fantasies through our lives. It’s a story made for the Sci Fi channel and out of the mad scientist’s laboratory comes a ravenous monster called ObamaCare (the Affordable Care Act).
Crushing national debt was Santa Ana’s legacy and crushing national debt will be Obama’s legacy.
In the case of Mexican debt, the U.S. was the creditor. Ironically, now China has become our creditor that swiftly ‘forecloses’ on us by buying out critical industries and associated technologies.