 As with other newly-independent Spanish American countries, a military strongman ("caudillo"), conservative General Antonio López de Santa Anna, dominated politics in a period conventionally called the Age of Santa Anna.The military defended the country's sovereignty when Spain attempted to reconquer Mexico, the French invaded to collect debts, and Anglo-American settlers in Texas fought for their independence.In 1846, the United States provoked the Mexican–American War, which ended two years later with Mexico ceding almost half its territory via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to the United States.