The Alamo Research Paper

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Pages: 5

The present-day Alamo building rests on a sandy plain on ----- Street in San Antonio, TX. So many memories attached to one building that is still visited today. The Alamo served as a symbol of courage for Americans and a symbol of expansion for the United States. Just the church section of the Alamo remains. The rest of the magnificent fortress was destroyed as a result of a courageously fought battle of Texas independence that changed American history forever.
According to the History.com staff on their article “The Alamo” in 1835 at the beginning of Texas’ war for independence, a group of Texan volunteers defeated the Mexican garrison, captured the Alamo, and took control of San Antonio. In 1836 two famously known figures, James Bowie and
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That same year, 1836, a Mexican army consisting of around 1,800 to 6,000 soldiers led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, formed a powerful blockade around the Alamo. The Texans inside the Alamo fought valiantly for thirteen days against the overwhelmingly large Mexican army but on the fourteenth day they were defeated. The Mexican Army had found a breach in the wall and seized the Alamo back, killing many Texans, and sparing very few lives. The Mexican Army spared one very important life in particular; Susannah Dickinson. Santa Anna ordered Susannah and her daughter to go to Sam Houston’s camp and warn him that if the Texans continued to fight for their independence they awaited a similar fate as the soldiers at the Alamo. The Mexican army claimed the Alamo once again, but the Battle of the Alamo served as a reminder of the courage and determination of the Texan soldiers who gave their lives in the Texas war for independence. About a month after the Mexican army defeated the Texans at the Alamo, Sam Houston and his army of 800 defeated Santa Anna’s army of 1,500 in the Battle at San Jacinto. During this battle Sam Houston had shouted the famous quote “Remember the Alamo!” The battle at San Jacinto clinched the …show more content…
What caused the Alamo to remain so popular and significant even in today’s modern society? One thing that, in my opinion, made the Alamo such an important event is the courageousness and heroic nature of the Texan soldiers. Even though the Texans at the Alamo knew that they were largely outnumbered they stood their ground to fight for what they strongly believed in; their independence. A great example of their courageousness is present in a letter written by William Travis to Sam Houston regarding the battle at the Alamo. “I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man” (William Barret Travis' Letter from the Alamo). This line indicates how ferociously and defensively the Texan soldiers fought at the Alamo. “The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls I shall never surrender or retreat” (William Barret Travis' Letter from the Alamo). This line indicated the immense courage of the men at the Alamo. Even though they were vastly outnumbered the Texan soldiers were still willing to fight to the death. “If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor