Stop 9: Santa Anna versus the new state of Texas

Texas officially became a state in 1845, during the first year of Polk’s administration. Underneath the replica of the Mexican flag is a case of war souvenirs. The most notable souvenir in this case is the hat of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, former Mexican President and military general. In 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico. Mexico did not accept the secession of Texas from the country and still considered it as Mexican territory. In February – March of 1836, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led the siege of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, killing the majority of the 200 Texans involved in the uprising. In April, during the battle of San Jacinto, General Sam Houston’s troops overtook Santa Anna and his Mexican forces in a surprise attack. The outcome secured Texan independence from Mexico.

The story of how Santa Anna’s hat ended up at the museum goes back to the final days of the Mexican American War. After the U.S. Army captured Mexico City in September 1847, Santa Anna resigned the presidency of Mexico and fled into the countryside. In January 1848, American general-in-chief Winfield Scott sent Major William H. Polk on a mission to track down Santa Anna and to suppress rebel activity between Mexico City and Vera Cruz. As Polk approached the town of Tehuacán, where Santa Anna was reportedly in hiding, Santa Anna heard that the Americans were hot on his tail and he rode off again, leaving his personal belongings behind. When Polk and his men rode into town, they found the fully furnished apartment that Santa Anna had abandoned, and they helped themselves to the general’s garments, including the hat in the case in front of you. While Polk gained this hat as his share of the loot, he regretted he missed the chance to capture the man it belonged to, lamenting to his father-in-law, “though the nest was warm... the bird had flown.” The hat stayed in the Polk family’s possession until they donated it to the North Carolina Museum of History in 1916.

During President Polk’s administration, negotiations took place between Polk and Santa Anna, however neither side could come to an agreement. War broke out between the two countries, with the United States coming out as the victor. Mexico ceded a large amount of territory to the US, which today includes the present states of New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Colorado.43

The Mexican American War lasted from 1846 to 1848. In 1848, Mexico ceded the entire Northern half of its territory, an area of over 1,000,000 square miles, to the United States for fifteen million dollars. This is known as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.  

Conclusion

Take a moment to reflect on the long history of this land. Beginning with the Indigenous people for thousands of years, and then the arrival and colonization by Europeans, which forever changed the lives and culture of the land’s original inhabitants. Enslaved people and free people of African descent also bore witness to the birth of the United States and its rapidly expanding landmass during Polk’s administration. James K. Polk began his life as an ordinary country boy who, through his ambition and work ethic, rose to the highest position in the United States. His wartime policies extended the borders of the United States and the proverbial words “from sea to shining sea” manifested into reality during Polk’s presidency.
Thank you for taking this audio tour. Other activities at the historic site include a 13-minute film and guided tours of the historic buildings. We also encourage you to wander the grounds at your own pace to explore our kitchen garden located next to the historic cabins, the historic cemetery on the opposite side of the parking lot, and the 1904 Daughters of the American Revolution Memorial near the entrance.