MANUEL GÓMEZ PEDRAZA: BIOGRAPHY AND GOVERNMENT - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Manuel Gómez Pedraza (1789-1851) was a Mexican general and president who ruled from December 27, 1832 to January 31, 1833. Gómez Pedraza fought against Mexican insurgents in the War of Independence and contributed to the capture of José Maria Morelos.

Gómez Pedraza reached the positions of colonel and general during the mandate of Agustín de Iturbide, as they were close friends. Such important positions served to increase their political position within Mexico. He worked with the intention of reaching the presidency until he succeeded, however, the number of obstacles was infallible.

By AMANECER, via Wikimedia Commons

He was also able to establish relationships with his opponents, in order to end any type of uprising and achieve the political well-being of Mexico. Although throughout his political career he managed to obtain important positions, his stay as president was quite short.

However, his triumphs were materialized both in the War of Independence and in his effectiveness in the positions he held.

Biography

Early years and political career

Manuel Gómez Pedraza was born on April 22, 1789 in Querétaro, Mexico, under the name of Manuel Gómez Pedraza y Rodríguez. His parents were Juan Antonio Gómez Pedraza and his mother María Úrsula Rodríguez y Salinas, belonging to the Creole upper class with possessions in Jalpan.

He began his studies in Querétaro, but left them just starting the War of Independence in 1810. After the outbreak of the war, he began his military career with the royalist army under the command of Félix María Calleja del Rey, becoming a lieutenant.

Apart from participating arduously in the War of Independence, he contributed to the capture of José María Morelos. This fact made Gómez Pedraza achieve a high position and embark on his career as a political leader.

After the fall of the viceregal government, he fervently joined Agustín de Iturbide, who made him Commander of the Mexico City Garrison and his personal friend.

He joined the Plan of Iguala, being a lieutenant colonel and a faithful supporter of Iturbide. Iturbide immediately appointed him commander of the Huasteca and head of the Mexican detachment. After Iturbide's exile from the Casa Mata Plan, he handed over the position.

Coming to power

In 1824, the country presented both a political and social crisis. However, Mexico was declared for the first time a free and federal nation. Following months, Guadalupe Victoria obtained a victorious result in the elections.

That same year, Gómez Pedraza was appointed military commander of Puebla, replacing Manuel Mier y Terán. Pedraza took command as Minister of War and Navy, appointed by Guadalupe Victoria, and took advantage of the position to associate with other politicians and prepare for the candidacy for the presidency of Mexico.

Finally Gómez Peraza became a candidate in 1828 in opposition to Vicente Guerrero, leaving the elections undefeated. However, he did not take office; Generals Antonio López de Santa Anna, José María Lobato and Lorenzo Zavala prevented it. Consequently, he had to go into exile in France.

The election was annulled and the one who took power, by dismissal, was Vicente Guerrero, through the Perote Plan. Vicente then assumed the presidency of Mexico. However, on November 5, 1832, Gómez Pedraza returned to Mexico after exile.

Perote Plan

On September 16, 1828, the deputy governor of Veracruz, Antonio López de Santa Anna, urged to ignore the results of the elections where Gómez Pedraza was favored.

Santa Anna took up arms and moved to the San Carlos de Perote Fortress. In the place she made her manifesto public. Santa Anna's argument stated that he would not recognize the results of Manuel Gómez Pedraza for being an enemy of the federal institutions.

In addition, he demanded that Guerrero take office as president, as well as calling a new presidential election. According to Santa Anna, the Perote Plan was a pronouncement in order to protect the nation and not resort to violent routes.

On the other hand, the Perote Plan demanded a law for the total expulsion of the Spanish residents of Mexico, considering it the origin of all the evils in the country.

On November 30, 1828, José María Lobato started the riots in front of the Acordada prison, as a form of protest against the results of the elections. Santa Anna tried to prevent violent activities, however, her plan failed. Consequently, Gómez Pedraza left the country.

Zavaleta Agreements

The Zavaleta agreements was the counterpart of the Perote Plan; the second manifesto recognized Gómez Pedraza as president and led him to take office. The agreement gave rise to the return of the constitutional order that had been transgressed in past elections.

The Zavaleta agreements were a peace agreement signed by Antonio López Santa Anna, Anastasio Bustamante, and Manuel Gómez Pedraza. The purpose was to end the revolution started against the centralist regime.

After Congress disapproved of the peace agreement, Gómez Pedraza and the other politicians involved went to the Hacienda de Zavaleta to prepare the final project. However, on December 23 they managed to sign the agreements.

Among the articles was the establishment of the republican and federal system, as well as the recognition of Gómez Pedraza as president of Mexico.

Presidency

After the recognition of the Zavaleta Plan, Gómez Pedraza assumed office on December 24, 1832 in Puebla. On January 3, he entered Mexico City accompanied by Santa Anna. One of his first decrees was to expel all resident Spanish citizens from Mexico; exposed in the agreements signed in Zavaleta.

Shortly after being named president, he asked Congress to appoint Santa Anna as president and Valentín Gómez Farías as vice president. However, Santa Anna fell ill, with which the presidency was finally in the hands of Gómez Farías.

From the appointment of Gómez Pedraza until his final resignation, he was only three months as president.

Subsequent years

In 1841, he was appointed by Santa Anna's cabinet as minister of internal and external affairs. However, he only remained in office for three days due to the differences he had with the president, Anastasio Bustamante. Gómez Pedraza criticized Bustamante's intention to reestablish the 1824 constitution.

However, Gómez Pedraza took office again in the years 1841 and 1847. He was also a deputy in the constituent congress and was arrested just when the congress disintegrated.

In 1844 he started as a federal deputy and was known for his eloquent prayers. That same year he gave a speech to the Senate against the personal dictatorship of Santa Anna.

In 1845 he appeared again in the elections for the presidency of Mexico, but was defeated by José Joaquín de Herrera.

He was a member of the Governing Council in 1846. The following year, he returned with the position of minister of relations due to the American occupation in Mexico City; the government had been transferred to Querétaro.

Gómez Pedraza was president of the Senate of Mexico during the approval of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war in February 1848.

Last years

In 1850, he returned to be a candidate for the country's presidency, however, he was defeated by General Mariano Arista in the elections.

On May 14, 1851, Manuel Gómez Pedraza died at the age of 62 in Mexico City. The reason for his death was a pulmonary cavity, a disease that affects the lung tissue causing inflammation and rupture of the same.

In his last years he served as director of the National Monte de Piedra (Credit institution for the commitment of material goods).

His remains rest in a crypt in the Panteón Francés de la Piedad; for the clergy did not allow him to be buried holy after dying without having confessed.

Characteristics of his government

Works for the country

Despite having had a short term in office, Gómez Pedraza actively participated in a large number of activities in favor of Mexico, before and after his mandate.

Position before federalism

Gómez Pedraza did not believe in federalism, and was even a fervent anti-federalist. His mentor Agustín de Iturbide always had the pretense of centralizing power based on a monarchy.

Iturbide's influence on Gómez Pedraza was imminent. However, after the fall of his mentor, he believed in federalism as a political system.

Exile

Gómez Pedraza had to wait several years (from 1828 to 1832) to be able to exercise his constitutional mandate. However, in that interim time, he was exiled in France, with the intention of regaining his position as president.

Agreements

Upon returning to Mexico, he tried to reach agreements with many of his enemies, in order to regain power and especially to preserve peace in Mexico. In fact, during the three months of government he applied the articles described in the Zavaleta Plan.

Oratory ability

He was known for being an excellent speaker. In his speech before the Senate in 1848 on the war in the United States, he has been described as one of the most brilliant speeches in the history of the Mexican Parliament.

References

1. Perote Plan, University of St Andrews, (nd). Taken from arts.st-andrews.ac.uk
2. Manuel Gómez Pedraza, writers of Buscabiografia.com, (nd). Taken from Buscabiografias.com
3. Manuel Gómez Pedraza, writers for presidents.mx, (nd). Taken from presidents.mx
4. Manuel Gómez Pedraza, wikipedia in English, (n. D,). Taken from wikipedia.org
5. Zabala Conventions, Wikisource.org Writers, (nd). Taken from wikisource.org