What did Santa Anna want from Mexico?

Answer 1

At first he was one of the promoters of Mexico becoming a republic. Then he turned himself into a dictator, and by the end of 1853 he became the most despised president Mexico ever has due to the loss of half of Mexican territory (the US southwest) and dared to sell the remaining Mesilla Valley during the Gadsden Purchase.

Answer 2

The two most important include the transformation from a monarchy into a republic (1823) and the loss of half the territory during the Mexican-American War (1846 - 1848).