revolt of the Spanish army in the Isle of Leon, and this added fresh fuel to the movement in Mexico. The famous Don Augustin Iturbide was appointed to the command of the Spanish troops. He almost at once renounced his allegiance, and proposed to the Viceroy that a new form of government should be instituted independently of Spain. His election by the military to the dignity of Emperor was not long delayed, but he was not destined to remain in tranquility for more than a short space. In 1823 revolution succeeded revolution, and in May of that year he was deported to Europe with the solatium of a pension. A new Republic was then formed. An attempt upon the part of Iturbide to recover his kingdom ended in his being shot at Padilla on 19th July, 1824. Later, the financial status of the country necessitated large loans, which were raised chiefly in England.
From this time a period of more or less peaceful progress supervened, broken now and again by revolutions instigated by party politicians; and no point of interest is reached until the memorable war with the United States in 1846. Hostilities were brought about by the collision of American citizens resident in Texas with the Mexican Government, which was arbitrary and oppressive, and which was resolved upon the suppression of the Texan pioneers. President Santa Anna, a figure as remarkable for military and political ability as for treacherous cruelty, had massacred 500 of the Texan farmers. The remainder took the field, and inflicted upon him a severe defeat in 1835. Texas then proclaimed its independence, and in 1845 was annexed to the United States by treaty. This roused the southern Republic to war; but at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca, the Mexicans were badly defeated by the Americans. It was not until February, 1848, five months after the fall of the capital, that peace was agreed upon, the United States paying $15,000,000 to salve the hurts the Mexicans had sustained by the loss of California and New Mexico.
