The Battle of the Alamo

The Battle of the Alamo was fought on March 6, 1836, between rebellious Texans and the Mexican army. The Alamo was a fortified old mission in the center of the town of San Antonio de Bà ©xar: it was defended by about 200 rebellious Texans, chief among them Lt. Colonel William Travis, famed frontiersman Jim Bowie and former Congressman Davy Crockett. They were opposed by a massive Mexican army led by President/General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna. After a two-week siege, Mexican forces attacked at dawn on March 6: the Alamo was overrun in less than two hours. The Struggle for Texas Independence Texas was originally part of the Spanish Empire in northern Mexico, but the region had been inching towards Independence for some time. English-speaking settlers from the USA had been arriving in Texas since 1821, when Mexico gained its independence from Spain. Some of these immigrants were part of approved settlement plans, like the one managed by Stephen F. Austin. Others were essentially squatters who had come to claim unoccupied lands. Cultural, political and economic differences separated these settlers from the rest of Mexico and by the early 1830s there was much support for independence (or statehood in the USA) in Texas. Texans Take the Alamo The first shots of the revolution were fired on October 2, 1835, in the town of Gonzales. In December, rebellious Texans attacked and captured San Antonio. Many of the Texan leaders, including General Sam Houston, felt that San Antonio was not worth defending: it was too far from the rebels power base in eastern Texas. Houston ordered Jim Bowie, a former resident of San Antonio, to destroy the Alamo and retreat with the remaining men. Bowie decided to remain and fortify the Alamo instead: he felt that with their accurate rifles and a handful of cannons, a small number of Texans could hold the city indefinitely against great odds. Arrival of William Travis and Conflict with Bowie Lt. Colonel William Travis arrived in February with about 40 men. He was outranked by James Neill and, at first, his arrival caused no great stir. But Neill left on family business and the 26-year-old Travis was suddenly in charge of the Texans at the Alamo. Travis problem was this: about half of the 200 or so men there were volunteers and took orders from no one: they could come and go as they wished. These men basically only answered to Bowie, their unofficial leader. Bowie didnt care for Travis and often contradicted his orders: the situation became quite tense. Arrival of Crockett On February 8, legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett arrived at the Alamo with a handful of Tennessee volunteers armed with deadly long rifles. The presence of Crockett, a former Congressman who had become very famous as a hunter, scout, and teller of tall tales, was a great boost to morale. Crockett, a skilled politician, was even able to defuse the tension between Travis and Bowie. He refused a commission, saying that he would be honored to serve as a private. He had even brought his fiddle and played for the defenders. Arrival of Santa Anna and the Siege of the Alamo On February 23, Mexican General Santa Anna arrived at the head of a massive army. He laid siege to San Antonio: the defenders retreated to the relative safety of the Alamo. Santa Anna did not secure all the exits from the city: the defenders could have crept away in the night had they wished: instead, they remained. Santa Anna ordered a red flag flown: it meant that no quarter would be given. Calls for Help and Reinforcements Travis busied himself sending out requests for help. Most of his missives were directed to James Fannin, 90 miles away in Goliad with about 300 men. Fannin did set out, but turned back after logistical problems (and perhaps the conviction that the men in the Alamo were doomed). Travis also begged for help from Sam Houston and the political delegates at Washington-on-the-Brazos, but no help was coming. On March first, 32 brave men from the town of Gonzales showed up and made their way through the enemy lines to reinforce the Alamo. On the third, James Butler Bonham, one of the volunteers, valiantly returned to the Alamo through enemy lines after bearing a message to Fannin: he would die with his comrades three days later. A Line in the Sand? According to legend, on the night of the fifth of March, Travis took his sword and drew a line in the sand. He then challenged anyone who would stay and fight to the death to cross the line. Everyone crossed except for a man named Moses Rose, who instead fled the Alamo that night. Jim Bowie, who by then was in bed with a debilitating illness, asked to be carried over the line. Did â€Å"the line in the sand† really happen? No one knows. The first account of this courageous story was printed much later, and it’s impossible to prove one way or another. Whether there was a line in the sand or not, the defenders knew that they would likely die if they remained. The Battle of the Alamo At dawn on March 6, 1836 the Mexicans attacked: Santa Anna may have attacked that day because he was afraid the defenders would surrender and he wanted to make an example of them. The Texans’ rifles and cannons were devastating as the Mexican soldiers made their way to the walls of the heavily fortified Alamo. In the end, however, there were just too many Mexican soldiers and the Alamo fell in about 90 minutes. Only a handful of prisoners were taken: Crockett may have been among them. They were executed as well, although women and children who were in the compound were spared. Legacy of the Battle of the Alamo The Battle of the Alamo was a costly win for Santa Anna: he lost about 600 soldiers that day, to some 200 rebellious Texans. Many of his own officers were appalled that he did not wait on some cannons that were being brought to the battlefield: a few days bombardment would have greatly softened up the Texan defenses. Worse than the loss of men, however, was the martyrdom of those inside. When word got out of the heroic, hopeless defense mounted by 200 outnumbered and poorly armed men, new recruits flocked to the cause, swelling the ranks of the Texan army. In less than two months, General Sam Houston would crush the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto, destroying a large part of the Mexican army and capturing Santa Anna himself. As they ran into battle, those Texans shouted, Remember the Alamo as a war cry. Both sides made a statement at the Battle of the Alamo. The rebellious Texans proved that they were committed to the cause of independence and willing to die for it. The Mexicans proved that they were ready to accept the challenge and would not offer quarter or take prisoners when it came to those who took up arms against Mexico. Mexicans Supporting Independence One interesting historical note is worth mentioning. Although the Texas Revolution is generally assumed to have been stirred up by Anglo immigrants who moved to Texas in the 1820s and 1830s, this is not entirely the case. There were many native Mexican Texans, known as Tejanos, who supported independence. There were about a dozen or so Tejanos (no one is certain exactly how many) at the Alamo: they fought bravely and died with their comrades. Today, the Battle of the Alamo has achieved legendary status, particularly in Texas. The defenders are remembered as great heroes. Crockett, Bowie, Travis and Bonham all have many things named after them, including cities, counties, parks, schools and more. Even men like Bowie, who in life was a con man, brawler and slave trader, were redeemed by their heroic death at the Alamo. Several movies have been made about the Battle of the Alamo: the two most ambitious were John Waynes 1960 The Alamo and the 2004 film of the same name starring Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett. Neither film is great: the first was plagued by historical inaccuracies and the second just isnt very good. Still, either one will give a rough idea of what the defense of the Alamo was like. The Alamo itself is still standing in downtown San Antonio: its a famous historical site and tourist attraction. Sources: Brands, H.W. Lone Star Nation: the Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence. New York: Anchor Books, 2004.Flores, Richard R. The Alamo: Myth, Public History, and the Politics of Inclusion. Radical History Review 77 (2000): 91–103. Print.---. Memory-Place, Meaning, and the Alamo. American Literary History 10.3 (1998): 428–45. Print.Fox, Anne A., Feris A. Bass, and Thomas R. Hester. The Archaeology and History of Alamo Plaza. Index of Texas Archaeology:  Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State (1976). Print.Grider, Sylvia Ann. How Texans Remember the Alamo. Usable Pasts. Ed. Tuleja, Tad. Traditions and Group Expressions in North America: University Press of Colorado, 1997. 274–90. Print.Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States. New York: Hill and Wang, 2007.Matovina, Timothy. San Fernando Cathedral and the Alamo: Sacred Place, Public Ritual, and Construction of Meaning. Journal of Ritual Studies 12.2 ( 1998): 1–13. Print.

My First Lesson On The Battle Of Lexington And Concord

This week I only attended three days for block teaching. Monday was Columbus Day so the school was closed and everyone had the day off. Friday I did not attend because it was fall break for WIU so I decided to go home for the weekend. On Tuesday the students worked on Cornell notes for several headings in their textbook. Then on Wednesday I taught my first lesson on the battles of Lexington and Concord. The students analyzed two primary source documents then as a class we discussed their similarities and differences. The lesson went well despite the fact that two-thirds of the class was missing due to state testing. The fact that majority of the class made me worried for the lesson I prepared for the following day because the two lessons were designed to match up. However, I was pleasantly surprised that Thursday’s lesson went as smoothly as it did. The students stayed on task and were focused so I did not have really any issues with classroom management. Since this week was s hort and I taught two out of the three days I was present my teacher didn’t have much involvement with his class. On Thursday when one student was getting a big rowdy before class due to an argument my mentor pulled him into the hallway to address the situation. I believe my best classroom management skills were displayed during my Wednesday lesson. Due to majority of the class being missing I got the vibe that the students who were present thought of it as a free day. I had one student who decidedShow MoreRelatedWhat Was The Cause Of The American Revolution?1705 Words   |  7 Pagesneeded to be taught a lesson, so we had to get violent. 3: These Americans, so ungrateful and hard headed, we told them that they would be payed back. After we got out of debt from the 7 year war, we were going to give them the profit that that we made. But for some reason, the Americans decided to be difficult, they were difficult, even though they could profit. 1: Speaking of the 7 year war, it seemed reasonable that England would put the Proclamation line into effect. From my understanding, EnglandRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Into The Wild By Jon Krakauer1686 Words   |  7 Pagesbest. For example, Washington led the Continental Army against the great British Empire, and Chris left his normal and traditional life, to seek a life of adventure and determined to go on a journey across the United States. Washington became the first president of the United States. Washington was also the only one qualified to defend and lead our country during the Revolutionary War. Even though these two examples are different on many levels, both Washington and McCandless are considered to beRead MoreGeorge Washington Essay2499 Words   |  10 PagesGeorge Washington Leadership Paper Abstract George Washington was the first leader of the United States; he was a leader in the military for the French and Indian War, and the American Revolution. While a lot is known about his accomplishments it seems more like destiny and/or fate for his place in history. His upbringing and military battles all are more associated with luck than skill. Discussed in the following is a history and story of an unlikely leader. George Washington WashingtonRead MoreRevisiting, Revising, and Reviving Americas Founding Era6252 Words   |  26 Pages1789, the story has a happy ending and the curtain comes down. This time-honored script renders the road from colonies to nation clear, smooth, and straight, with familiar landmarks along the way, from Bostons Massacre and Tea Party through Lexington and Concord, then on to Bunker Hill and Yorktown before reaching its destination: Philadelphia in 1787, where the Founders invented a government worthy of Americas greatness. Those Founders are equally familiar. Washington and Thomas Jefferson, BenjaminRead MoreOpportunities23827 Words   |  96 PagesFor the exclusive use of D. DE ALEJANDRO 9-801-361 REV: SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 NANCY F. KOEHN Howard Schultz and Starbucks Coffee Company Prologue: International Expansion On August 2, 1996, Starbucks Coffee Company opened its first store outside North America. Like many of its U.S. and Canadian outlets, the new store was located in a busy district of a prominent city—Tokyo. Starbucks managers had devoted much time to selecting the site, designing the store’s layout and fixtures, training

Despite the significant (and not always subtle)...

Despite the significant (and not always subtle) differences that exist among and between various Jewish populations, Jews have long been thought of as a highly-cohesive social group, with shared values and loyalties that cut across geographic, linguistic and other lines. Drilling down into the historical record, however, one discovers a much different reality. In this essay, I will seek to address and dispel the notion that those who subscribe to the Jewish faith have always moved in lockstep with one another. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the concept of Jewish singularity is in fact a myth. Some clear examples of this are found in Europe. Under the ancien rà ©gime in France, French Jewry was marked by division (Graetz,†¦show more content†¦There was a considerable gulf between these more assimilated Sephardic Jews and the Ashkenazi Jews. In fact, the Sephardim looked upon the Ashkenazim as less French, less refined and less virtuous (Jaher, p. 73). Conver sely, the Ashkenazim thought of themselves as more faithful to Jewish laws and customs (Jaher, p. 73). The distinctions and antagonisms between the Ashkenazim and Sephardim came to a head during the National Assembly debate on the status of Jews in France, which occurred on the eve of the French revolution in 1788; every Jewish delegation negotiated separately. The Sephardic delegates went so far as to fight legislation that would have grouped them together with the Ashkenazim, and they told Abbà © Grà ©goire that the Ashkenazi campaign for citizenship was harming their own chances (Jaher, p. 128). Many in the French community were also inclined to separate the status of the Sephardim from that of the Ashkenazim. Jews of Portuguese origin, for example, were said to have â€Å"participated in the rights of the bourgeoisie† and to have acted like â€Å"citizens† of France (Jaher, p. 128). Following the emancipation and ensuing acculturation of French Jews, there was another notable case of division among the Jewish people in Europe. During this period, there was a significantShow MoreRelatedGender Differences Between Canada And The Economic South1306 Words   |  6 Pages1. â€Å"Why are gender and difference issues so important in understanding the potential for skills training and work and learning in both Canada and the ‘economic south’?† The lives of women today have changed significantly because there are more women now who are educated than ever before. In addition, there is a larger number of female involvement in the job market that have forged ahead in the workforce. The rate of transformation is increasing at an accelerated pace with Western and Third WorldRead MoreMtv Networks And The Middle East1648 Words   |  7 Pagesfull of rich and diverse communities, cultures, and sub-cultures, each country holds varying perspectives. 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The Stranger By Albert Camus Essay - 1546 Words

The French philosopher Roland Barthes once said, â€Å"Literature is the question minus the answer† (Barthes 2). This statement hold true for most works of literature that explore a central question. According to Barthes, literature often raises a question, but leaves it up to the reader to determine the answer. The Stranger by Albert Camus is an excellent example of how a central question, â€Å"Is there value and meaning to human life?† is raised and left unanswered, resulting in different interpretations of the answer, depending on the viewpoint of the reader. Although the question is never explicitly answered, Camus offers perspectives on what French society regarded the answers to be, such as connections with others, elusion to freedom, and faith in religion and God. In order to achieve a deeper understanding of what this quote really means, an analysis of the context of the quote must be established. 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Free Hamlets The Foils in Hamlet Hamlet ess Essay Example For Students

Free Hamlets: The Foils in Hamlet Hamlet ess Essay aysFoils in Hamlet A foil is a minor character that helps the audience better understand a major character. A foil may exist as a comparison character, with similarities between the two, as well as differences that bring to light an important contrast between the foil and the main character. A foil may also just be someone for the main character to talk to, so we can know and understand their thoughts and feelings. Foils help us understand the obvious as well as the arcane. In the classic tragedy Hamlet, we see William Shakespeare employ foils to illustrate both examples. They become important literary tools that help the reader rationalize the concurrent theme of the play deceit. Of the four young men who occupy a place in the life of Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear, at least initially, to be his closest friends. They are schoolmates at Wittenburg, and Hamlet greets them both amicably, remarking, My excellent good friends! How dost thou,. . Queen Gertrude affirms the status of their relationship when she says, And sure I am two men there is not living to whom he more adheres. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are unaware, however, of the real story behind the death of Hamlets Father. They do not have the benefit of seeing his ghost, as Hamlet has. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are very loyal to the new King. Unlike Hamlet, they initially have no reason not to trust Claudius. But they become unwitting and unknowing pawns for both factions. Their relationship with Hamlet begins to sour. Hamlet realizes what the King is up to, and he becomes distrustful of the two. Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?, Hamlet remarks in disgust. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern never address Hamlet in such a disrespectful tone, despite the change in their relationship. In the end, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are naively loyal to Hamlet, and this becomes their downfall. They know that Hamlet has killed Polonius, and yet, they take no precautions as they accompany Hamlet to England. Their trust in both Claudius and Hamlet gets them killed. Hamlets reveals his mistrust of his schoolmates in a conversation with his mother, and refers to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as, .. .my two-school fellows, whom I will trust as adders fanged Hamlets friendship with his third colleague from this group is much different compared to that of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Horatio, also a classmate at Wittenburg, does not appear initially to occupy the same social status as did the former two. He addresses Hamlet and says, The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. So Horatio may be from a lower social-economic class. Like Hamlet, he sees a ghost, but is not sure that the ghost was the king, as he admits to only seeing the king once before, another argument for Horatios unfamiliarity with the royal family. Horatios most important role as a foil does not become evident until the end of the play. His conversation with Hamlet just before the fatal duel with Laertes provides us with an insight into Hamlets state of mind. Horatio advises Hamlet to back down if he does not like the circumstances, and Horatio will attest to Hamlets not being fit. Hamlet will not allow this, and in fact expects that he will lose his life in this battle with Laertes. It is Horatio for whom Hamlet cries out when he realizes that he has been poisoned. Horatio attempts to drink from the cup also, but Hamlet prevents him from doing so. His final request to Horatio is that he tell this story to all. .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea , .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .postImageUrl , .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea , .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea:hover , .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea:visited , .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea:active { border:0!important; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea:active , .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u41e84ca80a545850d997921de2e3f6ea:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Why Study Economics Essay Horatio has become Hamlets strongest friend and closest ally. It is no coincidence then, that Horatios fate becomes the exact opposite of the ultimatum that fell to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. No other foil provides a starker contrast in character to Hamlet than does Laertes. It would appear that one of their few common threads lies in the fact that both of their fathers have been murdered. Both seek to avenge these deaths, but it is Laertes who needs no additional motivation. Hamlet does not act until his mother is poisoned accidentally. Laertes is also away at school, but in Paris instead of Wittenburg. Hamlet procrastinates after seeing his fathers ghost. His inability to take immediate action shapes the plot of the story. Indeed, if Hamlet acts quickly, there would be only one act of Hamlet. Laertes, upon hearing of his fathers demise wants swift and fervent justice. Although he is the more impassioned of the two, it is this incisiveness that leads to Laertes demise. He allows himself to be manipulated, enamored by the kings rhetoric. Laertes, suddenly realizing the plot at hand, repents for his killing of Hamlet, true to his character even in the face of death. Hamlet seeks to blame his madness for the death of Polonius, and never admits fault for the fate of his schoolmates. The deaths of Laertes and Hamlet in the final act are a juxtaposition of their respective characters. Throughout the play we are reminded of Hamlets egocentricism, but it is not until this final scene that we can reach this conclusion unequivocally.

Windows 95 Beats Mac Essay Example For Students

Windows 95 Beats Mac Essay Over the years, there has been much argument over whichcomputer platform to buy. The two contenders in theis competionshave been the PC , with its Windows environment and theMacintosh. Now, with the successful release of Windows 95 for thePC, this has been the mjor argument for each side : hardwareconfiguration, networking capabilities, and operating system. The first arguments to look at between the Pc and Macplatform has to do with hardware configuration. Before Windows95, installing and configuring hardware was like pulling teeth. The instructions given to help install hardware were toocomplicated for the average user. There was also the issuer ofcompatibility between the large number of different hardwaresetups available in the PC world. Is a particular board going towork with my PC? With Windows 95, these problems were alleviatedwith plug and play technology. With plug and play compatibleboards, the computer detects and configures the new boardautomatically. The operating system may recognize some hardwarecomponents on older PCs. Mac userw will claim that they alwayshad the convenicnce of a plug and play system, ubt the differenceshows in teh flexibility of the two systems. Another set of arguments Mac users use in favor of theirsysstems over PCs is in multimedia and networking capabilities. Mac users gloat that the Mac has networking technology built inthe system. Even if a user did not use it, the network isincluded with the system. They cited that for the PC users and Pcusers hate the fact that they need to stick a card in theircomputers to communicate with any other computer. With Windows95, the Mac network gloaters are silenced. Windows 95 includedbuilt-in network support. Any network will work properly. The Macusers also claim their systems have speech, telephony, and voicerecognition, whereas the Pc user does not have. In truth, thepromised building blocks for telephony control do not yet exist. I think the speech is not good point in the Mac. In the world of computer, people cannot stand still for toolong without getting passed by. Windows 95 now threatens the onlyassets the Mac has in capturing the interests of the consumersbecause of configuration in the hardware, communicationbetweencomputers and difference of operating systems in bothplatforms. Almost any argument could give in defense of the Macdoes not carry nearly as much bite as it did before Windows 95arrived. Pc users have something to be proud of.