How did Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna escalate tensions with Texas after assuming power in Mexico?

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna escalated tensions with Texas after assuming power in Mexico through a series of actions that centralized power and undermined federalism in Mexico. Upon his rise to power, Santa Anna initially supported the federalist cause, which aligned with the 1824 Constitution of Mexico that allowed for a level of autonomy in Mexican states, including Texas (then called Tejas and a part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas).

However, once in power, Santa Anna shifted his political stance and started to centralize authority in Mexico City, transitioning toward a more authoritarian regime. In 1834, he disbanded the Mexican Congress and had a new centralist constitution, known as the "Siete Leyes" (Seven Laws), implemented in 1836. These actions effectively dismantled the existing federal structure.

Santa Anna's centralist policies alarmed the settlers in Texas, many of whom were from the United States and had moved to Texas with the expectation of living under a federalist government akin to that of the U.S. The centralist policies threatened the rights and self-governance they had enjoyed under the Mexican Constitution of 1824, leading to a sense of betrayal and fear of losing their local autonomy and civil rights, including their right to own slaves which was a contentious issue as Mexico had abolished slavery.

The tension reached its peak when Santa Anna sent military forces to Texas to enforce centralist policies and suppress any resistance. His efforts to disarm the Texan settlers in Gonzales prompted the Battle of Gonzales in October 1835, which is often considered the opening engagement of the Texas Revolution. These actions, along with his brutal treatment of captured Texan soldiers following the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, further cemented his role as the antagonist in the eyes of the Texan settlers and contributed to their fight for independence.

Santa Anna's attempt to crush the rebellion failed at the Battle of San Jacinto, where he was captured and forced to sign the Treaties of Velasco, granting Texas its independence, although the Mexican government did not recognize it. This series of events played a significant role in leading to the eventual annexation of Texas by the United States, which then led to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).