Minister of War Manuel Gomez Pedraza, Carrera defended the government, and after the triumph of the revolution he was promoted by President Vicente Guerrero to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was placed in charge of the Ciudadela in Mexico City in April 1831. During the Federalist Revolt of 1840, he defended the government and the next year he was promoted to effective brigadier general. He was a member of the national legislative junta in 1842 charged with drafting the Bases Organicas, and he was a senator to the congress in 1844 and 1845. He was a member of the council of state in 1846 and later an advisor to the Ministry of War. He fought during the Mexican American War and saw action during the fall of Mexico City. He supported the Plan of Jalisco which brought Santa Anna back into power in 1853, and was named by interim President Lombardini, head of the troops at Mexico City. Upon returning to power Santa Anna named him to the council of state and division general in June 1853. He was made commandant general of the federal district, and later joined in the campaign in Michoacan as Santa Anna attempted to suppress revolts against his rule. Presidency After failing to suppress the Plan of Ayutla, Santa Anna made the decision to resign and flee the country. On the morning of August 9, with Santa Anna already in flight, the government opened one of his last orders handing the power of the executive over to a triumvirate made up of the president of the Supreme Court, Mariano Salas, and Martin Carrera, who once installed were to summon a congress to form a constitution. General Carrera, and General Romulo Diaz de la Vega, commander of the garrison at Mexico City, rejected Santa Anna's plan and rather on August 13, declared their support for the Plan of Ayutla. The resolution in the capital which had adopted the Plan of Ayutla designated Romulo Diaz de la Vega to choose a junta of representatives from each department and from the federal district, which was to be charged with electing a president of the republic, and to serve as his council of state. The junta was constituted and Martin Carrera was elected president. Carrera attempted to abolish the traces of Santa Anna's dictatorship and forbade the commandant generals in charge of the nation's military districts from intervening