The Alamo Movie Essay

The last scene cuts from the mass executing fields of San Jacinto, highlighting dead Mexican troopers to the extent the eye can see, to the famous figure of Davy Crockett fiddling on the mass of the Alamo. The gore at San Jacinto reviews the butcher at the Alamo and is all the more huge for its conveying Texas from the grip of the domineering Mexican general Antonio López de Santa Anna. The vanquishing of the brutal and ethically suspect corrupt Mexican pioneer brings into being the Texas republic. Overall, the film relates to history because of the battles fought during the Texas Revolution making the Alamo an iconic

Crisp, James E. Sleuthing the Alamo: Davey Crockett's Last Stand and Other Mysteries of the Texas Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc, 2005.

The men fought very bravely and had some of the best fighters in America at their side, such as Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William B. Travis were all patriots who came together to fight for Texas’s freedom. All of the soldiers who fought for the Alamo were volunteers, all wanting their freedom from the Santa Anna. The Texan soldiers defeated over 700 of the Santa Anna’s soldiers but still lost the battle of the Alamo.

Sam Houston played a monumental role in sparking the Texas revolution. He believed that independence from Mexico was necessary saying that “war inevitable” and “urging volunteers to come to the aid of their Anglo brethren” (p. 60). Also, Houston’s role as commander-in-chief of the army was very important in winning the war for Texas Independence. After the capture of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, many of the soldiers in the Texas Army wanted to execute him on the spot. But because of Sam Houston’s level head, he knew that “his prisoner was the key to removing all Mexicans soldiers from Texas without further bloodshed”, and “Jacinto became his password to Texas heroism forever” (p. 85-87). Furthermore, Houston’s leadership as the president of the Republic of Texas “kept the republic alive until it became a part of his mother country” (p. 198).

Sleuthing the Alamo is a very interesting book written by James E Crisp that was published in 2005. The book focuses on talking about unveiling the myths that occurred during the Texas revolution. Myths such as Davy Crockett’s death are explained in this book which is probably the centerpiece of this text. Not only does it unveil some myths but it tells us some anecdotes that happened back then. James E Crisp reveals this information by using reliable sources such as books, documents, paintings, films and among others.

The battle at the Alamo is one of the most significant events in the Texas Revolution, as well as in both Mexican and American history. For Mexican President and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, it was a tale of determination and holding to the principles of a strong, central government. For Americans living in Texas, the Alamo was a venture of small scale Revolutionary ideals; a people should be able to democratically express how they feel their homeland to be governed. As we know, both countries experienced the extreme opposites of their desired outcomes, if only initially. The tales of this specific point in time are many, though some certainly contain many varying details from the next. However, most can hardly be proven, as

While the Texas Revolution began as colonists in the Mexican province of Texas rebelled against the Mexican authority for political and economic reasons, many historians believed that there was a racial and cultural factor in the conflict. Historians such as Eugene C. Barker, a prominent history professor and an expert in Texas history, based his argument of a racial war on Sam Houston’s speech to the Texas volunteer army at Refugio. In his book, Sleuthing The Alamo, James Crisp comes to Sam Houston’s defense and disproves Barker’s argument by taking a closer look at the speech and the details associated with it.

The Texas Revolution was a key point in our nation’s history and in the history of the state of Texas. For, if Texas had not revolted the way that they did, it would probably not have become a state. There are many causes that are speculated on why Texas revolted whether they are political disputes against the Centralist party in Mexico that had primary control at the time of the Revolution. These and more will be explored. Also, there are key battles in the Texas Revolution that decided the final fate of Texas, none more famous than the famous Battle of San Jacinto and The Alamo.

     The Alamo first saw action when General Cos landed at Copano, and headed to San Antonio to meet up with Colonel Ugartechea. By now war was on everyone’s mind and many events prior to Cos marching toward San Antonio set the playing field for war, but not everyone really was for it,..... at least not yet. Meanwhile, in Gonzales the revolution had started over a cannon that the settlers would not give up. This is also were the phrase “come and take it!” was born. What had happen was Ugartechea sent a lieutenant with some men to unarm a group of colonist who had a cannon at their disposal in Gonzales. What the Mexican’s did not count on was that in the end they would be sent running off to San Antonio after being repulsed by the colonists. Now the colonists formed a small army to March on Cos and his men, which the settlers wanted out of Texas for good. As Lord points out Cos would be ready for the settlers in San Antonio. Lord also points out how the mission in San Antonio got its name, Lord states that the mission once held a colonial company from the Alamo de Parras in Mexico, and that the named carried over and was shortened to just being called the Alamo.

The battle for Texas’ independence was a hard battle. Many lives were taken, home destroyed, and families were torn apart. Texas residents wanted to break away from Mexico and become a self-governing republic inside of Mexico because they did not like Santa Anna’s laws. Mexico did not allow slave immigration, so Texas wanted to be a part of the United States that allowed slavery. But the main reason was that Mexico would not change or consider any government ideas that the Anglos and Mexicans had for Texas, and resulted in Santa Anna ruling and making all the laws and decisions. Santa Anna also overthrew the Mexican government and made himself the Mexican dictator. Stephen Austin came to try and settle the trouble caused by the suggestion of Texas’ constitution, but instead Santa Anna imprisoned him for a year.

All through history there has been a plentiful measure of occasions; some are substantial and ready to change the course of history, while some are little and have minuscule influence in the advancement of today's general public. At the point when initially brought into the subject of Texas Independence, James Crisp's, the creator of Sleuthing the Alamo, surveys a lot of data that paves the way to address given by Sam Houston, concerning the theme of accepting Texas Independence from Mexico. At the point when Crips goes over this discourse he is amazed by the word usage of the location and wasn't anticipating that it should give such a stunning component. With the stun of the discourse, Crips had a right personality to go on a noteworthy chase

The Battle of the Alamo was a battle between rebellious Texans and the Mexican army. The Alamo was a fortified old mission in the center of the town of San Antonio de Béxar, it was defended by about 189 rebellious Texans, chief among them Lt. Colonel William Travis, famed frontiersman Jim Bowie and former Congressman Davy Crockett. A massive Mexican army led by President/General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna opposed them. After a two-week obstruction, Mexican forces attacked at dawn on March 6 the Alamo was overran in less than two hours (The Alamo, 2016,

If you’ve ever studied U.S. History the chances are you’ve heard the saying, “Remember the Alamo!” To a Texan those three simple words emphasize the strength, bravery, and commitment Texans have to defend their beliefs until the end. But what exactly is the Alamo? The Alamo was the first mission in the San Antonio region of Texas. The Alamo was originally called Mission San Antonio de Valero.

In January of 1836 about 145 Texans were fortified in the soft walls of the Alamo also known as Cottonwood. Some of the important people here were lieutenant Colonel William Berret Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crocket. Meanwhile Santa Anna drove his troops into Texas in the dead of winter to level the Alamo. They arrived and began their siege on February 23. Fighting Ensued for about 13 days with minimum casualties. But on the 13th day of battle March 6, 1836 Santa Anna ordered a surprise attack from all sides in the dead of night. All defenders of the Alamo died that night.

We see a large contrast between the American characters and Mexican characters in the film. The American characters are chivalrous, courageous and dressed in a typical “Western” fashion; raccoon fur hats, formal wear or button down shirts while the Mexican characters are depicted as cowards and womanizing drunks in sombreros, ponchos or soldier uniforms with darkened skin. These negative depictions of Mexicans are used as a contrast from this perfect image of what it is to be “American”. For example, the General Santa Ana is portrayed to be a weak leader who is detached from the battle and who is preoccupied with exploiting women. In contrast to Davy Crockett who is able to band together with others to fight and protect Texas while on the battle front. Griffin uses these historic Alamo figures to emulate what it means to belong to America. The idea of Americans not backing down against a threat is portrayed through figures like Davy Crocket.