A Line in the Sand: The Alamo in Blood and Memory was written by Randy Roberts and James S. Olson. This book is written in two major sections; the lead up to and including the battle in San Antonio at the Alamo and Goliad and then the aftermath and the effects it had on Americans, including the fight for control of the Alamo, which is commonly referred to as the “second battle of the Alamo” within the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Many points of view are stated from different historian’s books and research for the same events showing how the presumed facts can be sked based on an individual’s own bias and beliefs. It also contains the authors own point of view on the same events. Randy Roberts is a Distinguished Professor of History …show more content…
This sometimes makes the story hard to follow because it seems to be going along chronological and then will jump. The detail given to each different point of view is written in a manner that an ordinary person could pick up the book and read it with ease. The narrative style supplies a perspective from the Texans, Mexicans, and spectator documented renditions. Roberts and Olson try and relate what each group is feeling, thinking, and what drove them to the extremes that were executed. It is hard to tell an author bias because so many different versions of an event were made available to the reader for consideration. It seems, however, there is an overall “tilt” toward Texas and its defenders, though the portrait of Sam Houston was, at times, harsh. As far as inconsistencies, the way this book was wrote, they are expected based on whether the research was done from the Texans, Mexicans, or the observer standpoint. It also seems difficult to separate the myth from the truth at times. The primary sources used are found in the Texas State Library in Austin, Benson Latin American Collection and the Baker Center for American History at the University of Texas in Austin, the DRT Library in San Antonio and many more. (pg. 345-348) This book shows that there is much more to the “story” of the Alamo than what is flashed onto the big screen. Many of the details surrounding the main events have now been combined together in an eye-opening way. This book is a must read for anyone wanting new in-sight or just learning about the history and legends of
The author considers the relationship between the militiamen and strikers a positive one. He supports such relationships by the letter Norris wrote to her mother to be positive. Norris describes the strikers to be peaceful and supportive (Schade 28). However, the works by men like Bowen and Hinde show that there was a harsh relationship between the militia and the strikers (Schade 27). Such contradictions make the reader doubt the evidence the author has used to support his findings.
In Peace Came in the Form of a Woman: Indians and Spaniards in Texas Borderlands, the author Julianna Barr concentrates on the Texas borderlands, where the Spanish and the French settlers came across many indigenous Indian groups. Although she describes the influence of Native American power towards the Europeans, her primary focus is on gender, specifically women and their impact on social and cultural patterns within these tribes. Throughout this academic book, she illustrates the importance of the role of women during the eighteenth century to help achieve some of the intentions that both the Native Americans and Europeans had. Barr introduces the importance of women with a story consisting of the Indian tribe Comanches and the Spaniards.
Sleuthing the Alamo by James E. Crisp is about revealing the untold truths about the Texas Revolution and separating the glorious myths by giving Crisps’ investigative facts. Truths that somehow had been covered by racism and misinterpretation of context during the translation of information. Crisp speaks in first person making this book very personal informing the readers about how the information he uncovered had affected his personal view. The key points this book response will focus on are the truth behind David Crockett’s last stand, the truth and myth between the reality of the battle at the Alamo, the controversial personality of Sam Huston, and that the war was more than a race war. The author gives plenty of evidence to prove some
Days before the massacre, the thoughts of Quantrill were echoed throughout Missouri, “Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand; blood and revenge are hammering in my head” (78). These feelings spilled out onto the streets of Lawrence as raiders executed prisoners, threatening to “kill every damn one of them” (92). Goodrich described the trampling, dismembering, and burning of the residents. Throughout the book, Goodrich alludes to locations, residences, and areas of Lawrence. The author included maps of the city, images of troop movement, and time tables to help readers better understand the chaotic scene that was Lawrence, Kansas (36, 85, 139).
The Alamo is well known and glamourized battle that was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution; it has been made the subject of movies and games for many years. James E. Crisp’s historical monograph, Sleuthing the Alamo: Davy Crockett’s Last Stand and Other Mysteries of the Texas Revolution tries to express a more realistic account of the events and works to invalidate common misconceptions and myths surrounding the Alamo. His work is divided into four main myths: the racism in Sam Houston’s speech to the soldiers at Refugio, the justifiable and unjustifiable portions of Jose de la Peña’s personal narrative, Davy Crockett’s death, and how Crockett was represented as a patriotic icon during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Crisp’s work
Tina Hendi Mrs.Oakes U.S. History 20 May 2018 United States History Research Project DBQ - What significant impact did Russell Means and the American Indian Movement have on America during the 1960s -1970s? The American Indian movement (AIM) was founded in July 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Dennis Banks, Russell Means, Clyde Bellecourt, Vernon Bellecourt, Eddie Benton Banai, and George Mitchell, to advocate for American Indian rights in the United States. Later, Russell Means became a prominent leader and spokesperson for the group. Before the establishment of AIM, the Native Americans had an obscure existence, lack of autonomy and control in the United States.
The book “The Last GunFight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral- And How It Changed the American West” by Jeff Guinn is a history narrative about how the Earp brothers and Doc Holiday took on the Clanton brothers and changed the way Americans’ in the future perceived what the West was really like. In the book Guinn describes the many events that contributed and lead up to the incident at the O.K. Corral that occurred on October 26, 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona. The story begins by describing for the reader about the town of Tombstone and how it was just like any other mining settlement.
In Punitive War: Confederate Guerrillas and Union Reprisals, Clay Mountcastle provides a detail account on how the Union’s attitude and actions changes during the Civil War due to the guerrilla actions against them. The point of Punitive War is not to illustrate the guerrilla actions, but focuses on the Union Army’s response the aggression. The purpose of this study is to educate those interested in military history, such as Officers in the United States Army or simple college students, on how guerilla warfare can and will frustrate a large, professional military force. The message Mountcastle is trying to get across is that guerrilla warfare did had a huge effect on the Union Army’s action and that the true value of this aggressive behavior
Unraveling the Facts of the Conquest of Mexico Have you ever been in a situation where there were two sides to the story? Did it make you question who was telling the truth? Well this is exactly what happens when you read The Broken Spears by Miguel León Portilla and The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Díaz. These two accounts reveal information about the conquest of Mexico from two different perspectives. The Broken Spears gives the perspective of the Aztecs, whereas The Conquest of New Spain gives the perspective of the Spanish told by Bernal Díaz.
The novel, The Day the Cowboys Quit, by Elmer Kelton is not a typical cowboy story filled with waving guns and violent fights. Instead, this story shows what the real life of a cowboy would have been like through the story of Hugh Hitchcock. The Day the Cowboys Quit is based on a cowboy strike that occurred in Tascosa, Texas in 1883. Kelton based his fictional story on the causes of the strike and what became as a result of the strike. This paper will explain historical events concerning the cowboys and depict their true lifestyle which contrasts the stereotypes normally associated with being a cowboy, as well as summarize the novel The Day the Cowboys Quit.
Daniel Golaszewski November 11, 2015 Sleuthing the Alamo Davy Crockett's Last Stand and Other Mysteries of the Texas Revolution Sleuthing the Alamo by James E. Crisp is a great book that I personally recommend for anyone to read especially the history fanatics. Crisp takes the readers on a adventure to uncover the truth about racism, Sam Houston, David Crockett’s death and the Texas Revolution. James Crisp focus throughout the book is to uncover the truth about the Texas Revolution and how racism was a consequence because of it. He wants to remove the myths from Texas history. Crisp really gets the readers to step into his shoes by explaining the steps he takes to examine the documents.
As stated before, the US was justified in going to war with Mexico because of three reasons, Americans were killed, Texas was already annexed, and Manifest Destiny allows it. The United states had many superb reasons for going to war with Mexico. This essay is significant because it helps explain the United States’ choice to go to war with
week’s lesson we read, “Unearthing the Hidden Histories of a Borderlands Rebellion”, an essay by Benjamin Johnson. This essay starts off by describing the Plan of San Diego revolt that started in the summer of 1915. The plan was modeled to create a “liberating army of all races”, to create an “army” of Mexicans, Blacks, and Indians to in order to kill all white males. The Plan of San Diego revolt also called for this army to coup the United States government in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and California. Johnson believes that the coming of the railroad in 1904 was the critical local event that started this plan.
He presents his opinions based on facts and reasoning, and enlightens his readers with many truths that had been buried and hidden behind false beliefs. While digging deeper into myths surrounding the Alamo, Crisp uncovers hidden truths involving other historian’s information about facts like Davy Crockett’s memorable death (p. 65), the misquoted Houston speech (p. 49), and the validity of the de le Peña
When I started making films I made a promise to myself and an investment in my future. I don’t ever want to repeat myself, I don’t want to continue stories or repeat genres. The promise I made had been intended to exercise myself, while I have accomplished a breadth of unique shorts and may be in a position to expand upon my finest works and Ideas I want to fulfill one of my new idea that I've been chasing for some time. My concept for the ten-minute film is essentially a meditation on what it means to be a being.