Plan of Casa Mata

The Plan of Casa Mata (Spanish: "Plan de 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 in 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 to the crown and fled the country in March 1823. The 1824 Constitution was adopted the following year.

ee also

*Plans in Mexican history