TREATY OF VELASCO: BACKGROUND, POINTS AND CHARACTERS - HISTORY - 2025

The Treaty of Velasco is a set of public and private agreements signed on May 14, 1836 through the independence of Texas. After the president of Mexico, Antonio López de Santa Anna, was surprised and taken prisoner by the Texan rebels at the Battle of San Jacinto, the treaty was signed in exchange for his release.

In the Treaty of Velasco the limits between Mexico and Texas were established; one of these limits was the Rio Grande, which divides Texas from the state of Tamaulipas. This treaty owes its name to the port of Velasco in Texas, where it was signed.

Antonio López de Santa Anna and David G. Burnet

It was signed by the President of Mexico, Antonio López de Santa Anna, and the President of the Republic of Texas, David G. Burnet. This treaty implied the promise of Santa Anna to withdraw his troops from Texan territory and not attack it again.

Background and history

The Treaty of Velasco is signed on May 14, 1836 in Velasco, Texas. The signature is carried out after the battle of San Jacinto, which took place on April 21, 1836. General Antonio López de Santa Anna, who at that time held the presidency of the Republic of Mexico, participated in his signature; and Texas President David G. Burnet.

Santa Anna was taken prisoner by the Texan troops after losing the battle against the US Army. To achieve his release, he was forced to sign this treaty of peace and recognition of the independence of Texas from the Mexican territory.

The Treaty consists of two documents: one of a public nature and the other private or secret. In this way, Santa Anna negotiated his release under the promise not to continue attacking the new state of the United States and to be able to withdraw his troops without being attacked.

Unrecognized independence

Mexican troops were able to withdraw along with Santa Anna, but his government did not ratify the treaty with the United States. It was argued that the president as a prisoner had no legal capacity to sign the treaty.

In such a way that the Treaty of Velasco and the independence of Texas from the Mexican territory were not recognized.

Continued clashes

In subsequent years, clashes between Mexican and Texan troops continued. The Mexican army entered Texas territory several times but was unable to consolidate the secession or regain control.

The United States Army was superior in numbers and weapons, but the Texas government was not able to protect all of its territory from the Mexicans, especially between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. So the territorial dispute between the United States continued.

This would later unleash the war between Mexico and the United States in 1848. The expansionist policy of the United States and the peaceful occupation of the Texas territory by American emigrants from 1823, were the precedent to the annexation of Texas to the United States.

The United States sponsored the creation of the Republic of Texas. Its territory was separated from the Mexican state of Coahuila and Texas.

Definitive transfer

It was in 1848, with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, when the territory of Texas was definitively ceded to the United States. The limits set in the Treaty of Velasco were permanently established.

The United States-Mexico war that was fought between 1846 and 1847, concluded with the signing of this treaty that represented a severe setback for Mexicans.

Mexico was stripped of half of its territory. The United States annexed the states of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada, also part of Colorado, Wyoming and Oklahoma.

Main points of the Treaty of Velasco

In response to the enactment of the Seven Centralist Laws of 1836, the Texan settlers declared the independence of this territory and confronted Mexican troops.

After several clashes and skirmishes, the president of the republic himself, Antonio López de Santa Anna, led the army and advanced towards Texas.

But Santa Anna is surprised by the rebellious Texan settlers and was taken prisoner. In exchange for his release, he was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco. This recognizes the independence of Texas and establishes the limits between Mexico and that territory.

Articles

This treaty consists of 10 articles. Its main points are the following:

- General López de Santa Anna agrees not to attack or support attacks against the Texan people.

- Land and sea hostilities cease between the Mexican and Texan army

- Immediate withdrawal of Mexican troops from the territory of Texas.

- During its withdrawal, the Mexican army cannot take any property or property within Texas territory, except with just payment of compensation to its rightful owners.

- All private property (including cattle, black slaves, or hired workers) that had been seized by Mexican troops, must be returned to the commander of the Texas forces or whoever he designates.

- The troops of both armies would not establish further contact and had to stay at a minimum distance of five leagues.

- Immediate freedom for all Texas prisoners held by the Mexican army or any Mexican authority. Similarly, the Texas government would release Mexican prisoners into its custody.

- Release of General Antonio de Santa Anna when the US authorities consider it more convenient.

Santa Anna kept his word and the Mexican troops withdrew from Texas territory as established in the treaty. For its part, the government of Texas released Santa Anna so that she could return to Mexico to comply with the rest of the treaty.

However, the Mexican government refused to accept the terms agreed by Santa Anna with the Texas government.

Relevant characters

The Velasco Treaty was signed between General Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna and Pérez de Lebrón, President of Mexico; and the president of the newly created Republic of Texas, David G. Burnet.

This treaty was also signed by Texas Secretary of State Jas Collinsworth; the Secretary of the Treasury, Bailey Hardeman; and the attorney general, TW Grayson.

Antonio López de Santa Anna

Santa Anna was a skilled politician and military man born in Xalapa, on February 21, 1795. He held the presidency of Mexico six times, although many texts indicate that he did so eleven times, perhaps because during some of his mandates, in reality other people were left in charge of the government.

Santa Anna preferred to rule in the shade from his hacienda in Veracruz. He governed equally with liberals that conservatives, federalists or centralists. He called himself "Serene Highness" during his dictatorial period between 1853 and 1854.

David G. Burnet

The President of the Republic of Texas, David Gouverneur Burnet, was a politician born in Newark, New Jersey, on April 14, 1788.

In the years 1836 and 1841 he was interim president of Texas. Later, in the period 1839 and 1841, he served as vice president of the Republic of Texas. He was also the Secretary of State for Texas in 1846.

References

1. Text of the Treaty in Spanish and English. Retrieved February 21, from lsjunction.com
2. The Treaty of Velasco. Consulted of historiademexicobreve.com
3. Treaty of Velasco (1836). Consulted of muyeducativo.com
4. Treaty of Velasco. Consulted of es.wikisource.org
5. The dictatorship. The last Government of Antonio López de Santa Anna inehrm.gob.mx
6. David G. Burnet. Consulted of en.wikipedia.org
7. Antonio López de Santa Anna. Consulted of es.wikipedia.org
8. Mexico is invaded by North American troops. Consulted from mx.tuhistory.com