Plan of Casa Mata
Encyclopedia
The Plan of Casa Mata was formulated to abolish the monarchy
in Mexico
and to establish a republic
.
In December 1822, Antonio López de Santa Anna
and Guadalupe Victoria
signed the Plan de Casa Mata on February 1, 1823, as a start of their efforts to overthrow Emperor
Agustín de Iturbide
.
In May 1822, Congress proclaimed Iturbide as Emperor of Mexico. Commanding the country like he had commanded the army, he dissolved the Congress and ordered dissidents to be imprisoned.
Several insurrections arose in the provinces, that were choked by the army, except which it headed Antonio López de Santa Anna in Veracruz
, because this military man had an agreement with the general Echávarri, who commanded the imperial forces that fought Santa Anna. By agreement of both heads the Plan de Casa Mata was proclaimed on February 1, 1823. This plan did not recognize the Empire and requested the meeting of a new Constituent Congress
. The insurrectionists sent their proposal to the provincial delegations and requested their adhesion to the plan. In the course of only six weeks the Plan de Casa Mata had arrived at remote places, like Texas
, and almost all the provinces had been united to the plan.
When a provincial delegation accepted the Plan de Casa Mata, it withdrew its obedience toward the imperial government and assumed a sovereign attitude within its province. Agustín de Iturbide was isolated without more support than Mexico City
and some fractions of the army; consequently,he installed the dissolved constituent Congress again, abdicated the crown and fled the country in March 1823. The 1824 Constitution
was adopted the following year.
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and to establish a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
.
In December 1822, Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
and Guadalupe Victoria
Guadalupe Victoria
Guadalupe Victoria born José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix, was a Mexican politician and military man who fought for independence against the Spanish Empire in the Mexican War of Independence. He was a deputy for Durango and a member of the Supreme Executive Power...
signed the Plan de Casa Mata on February 1, 1823, as a start of their efforts to overthrow Emperor
Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the...
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Aramburu , also known as Augustine I of Mexico, was a Mexican army general who built a successful political and military coalition that was able to march into Mexico City on 27 September 1821, decisively ending the Mexican War of Independence...
.
In May 1822, Congress proclaimed Iturbide as Emperor of Mexico. Commanding the country like he had commanded the army, he dissolved the Congress and ordered dissidents to be imprisoned.
Several insurrections arose in the provinces, that were choked by the army, except which it headed Antonio López de Santa Anna in Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
, because this military man had an agreement with the general Echávarri, who commanded the imperial forces that fought Santa Anna. By agreement of both heads the Plan de Casa Mata was proclaimed on February 1, 1823. This plan did not recognize the Empire and requested the meeting of a new Constituent Congress
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
. The insurrectionists sent their proposal to the provincial delegations and requested their adhesion to the plan. In the course of only six weeks the Plan de Casa Mata had arrived at remote places, like Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and almost all the provinces had been united to the plan.
When a provincial delegation accepted the Plan de Casa Mata, it withdrew its obedience toward the imperial government and assumed a sovereign attitude within its province. Agustín de Iturbide was isolated without more support than Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and some fractions of the army; consequently,he installed the dissolved constituent Congress again, abdicated the crown and fled the country in March 1823. The 1824 Constitution
1824 Constitution of Mexico
The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was enacted on October 4 of 1824, after the overthrow of the Mexican Empire of Agustin de Iturbide. In the new constitution, the republic took the name of United Mexican States, and was defined as a representative federal republic, with...
was adopted the following year.