Santa Anna is referred to as a caudillo because of his leadership model in the Mexican military. Crawford explains more about the historical characters of Santa. He gives a clear biography on the happenings during the political leadership and struggles of Santa ( 319). He had admired contradictions in his leadership operations. Anna was a frivolous man, trite and consistent politically. “He was a wealthy man who had homes known as haciendas in the history. He sought power for the sake of prestige rather than responsibility” (Flower 327). He played a crucial role in confronting the Texas rebellion. His capture and defeat at San Jasinto by Texans hugely affected his reputation. This led to his withdrawal from public life temporarily.
What were the political and personal characteristics of Santa Anna that made him a Caudillo?
Santa’s Personality reveals bold character when he successfully established a republican government in Mexico in an in a hostile situation. “He was a tactful man as he had a keen sense of what to say and what to do in attending Tampico campaigns” (ed. Lee, McCauley and Shirk 462). Sagacity was found in Santa when he invested absolute power and was able to administer all of the hundred laws which were dictated. However, his leadership style and character do not depict him as a sanguinary monster.
Political characteristics
Santa was confident. This made it possible for him to fight battles more that the combination of Napoleon and George Washington’s. He was flexible to be jailed and went into exile for more than twenty years. His honesty makes a dictator and president of Mexico for more than forty years. He had the desire to support and relieve his countrymen from he innovations of the foreign intimidations. The state of considering the importance of the sovereignty in with the leadership powers for prestige reveals him as a patriot. Integrity played a key role in his leadership style made it possible for him to succeed in tight circumstances with absolute power for a long time. “His compassionate character helped him make a comeback and rescue the Mexican community” (Edmond-Poli and Shirk 143).
Santa is recorded as one of the greatest achievement in the political arena who never exploited his power to infringe on human rights in the community.
Works Cited.
Crawford Fears Ann. The Eagle: The autobiography of Santa Anna.Mexico: State house press,
1988. Print.
Edmonds-Poli Emily and Shirk A. David. Contemporary Mexican Politics. United Kingdom:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc., 2012. Print.
Flower Will. Santa Anna of Mexico. United States: University of Nebraska, 2007. Print.
Lee Yueh-Ting, McCauley R. Clark and Draguns G. Juris (ed.). Personality and person
Perception across culture. United States: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc., 1999.
Print.
