Student’s name Professor’s name Course Date Book Review Synopsis of the Content The Texas Revolutionary Experience by Paul D. Lack is a book aimed at honoring the legends of the Texas Revolution. More focus and insight is given on the reasons that led to the conflict witnessed in 1835-1836 and an analysis of how the real events transpired. In the various chapters, the author successively examines detailed accounts about the past from primary documents with an objective of bringing to light the incidents that took place and collectively culminated to the eruption of the conflict. The military situations, political turbulence, social upheavals, ethnic and religious strife among other aspects receive considerate attention and the aftermath is …show more content…
Lack goes a notch higher in helping the readers not only understand the history but also key problems that characterized it but were not necessarily discussed in most historical analyses. For example, Lack argues that most historians have, for a long time, been unable to understand the deeply rooted chaotic character of the war for Texan Independence. Furthermore, he remarks that with its military insubordination, internal disagreements, class, racial and ethnic tension make the Texas war for independence very unique. So in-depth is Lack’s analysis and perspectives that he ultimately implies that it is likely that their Texans owed their successes in fighting for independence more to promising circumstances rather than their own effort, commitment and organization (Lack …show more content…
For instance, Lack talks about how Blacks and Latinos were torn between supporting either the Mexicans of the Texans. Strangely enough, their choices were not as such inspired by patriotism to their nation but survival. This practice has extended even to modern society where many prejudices exists about black people due to their simple desire to survive. Perhaps the greatest contrast between the two books is that in The American Promise, the authors analyse how environmental issues such as conservation of sources of energy (coal, fossil fuel) and deforestation. In The Revolutionary Experience, however, the focus on environmental issues is not only shallow but also Lack does not proceed to show how it affected the politics of the time. Would you recommend the book to another student or teacher? Considering the educational, historical as well as cultural value of reading Lack’s book, I would highly recommend another student or teacher to read it. As seen the book presents a comprehensive and balanced account of Texan revolution, one that is unequaled by many historical books. Besides, this well researched and clearly written book, albeit would not replace other related studies but would actively contribute to better understanding of the Texan history. Indeed, The Texas
In the novel, “The captured: A True Story of Abduction on the Texas Frontier” written by Scott Zesch narrates the story of the Indian captives to address the experiences of Texas Pioneers. The story of Adolf Korn and the others who were captured by tribes brings forward the different cultures. The book explains a series of kidnapping and how the Indians force the children to adjust to their costumes. Zesch describes what the experiences of those abducted reveal about Native American culture and pioneer culture. The author pinpoints the reasoning as to why the Comanches took captives and portrays how the stories from both the captives and the captors fit into the history of the United States West.
In 1823, Mexico passed the General Colonization Law opening Texas to colonization and presenting impresario grants to individuals hoping to help encourage settlement and economic growth in the remote Mexican land of Texas. The Mexican government, later on, adopted the Constitution of 1824 making Texas joined with Mexico as part of the larger state of Coahuila y Tejas. Texas joining as a larger state-led to disadvantages such as the political power being placed in a more populous neighboring province of Coahuila. When becoming a larger state Texans enjoyed their own representative government at the local and provincial levels, so when Texans found out that politicians in the Coahuila city of Saltillo formed a new government in August that took
It provides insight into a very important period in American history. For those who do not like history or this period of history, this memoir will be dull and the reader will most likely dread reading it and give
Realities of war are revealed to us by the people that fight in it, yet war itself does just the very same to those fighting. The actions people make on the battlefield, or lack thereof, can be quite telling as to who they are at the core of their individuality. Shelby Foote presents a great deal of battlefield narrative to tell us about who the characters on the stage on the Civil War are without being forthright himself. This can be observed in Foote’s telling of the Seven Days Battle. Just in these six battles over seven days in Richmond, Foote teaches us a great deal about war.
Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution, successfully enables his readers to grasp the significance behind Boston and its neighboring cities during the rise of the Revolutionary War. Most Americans have a vague understanding of why events like the Battle of Bunker Hill are relevant and how this particular campaign played a pinnacle role in leading up to the Revolutionary War, but Philbrick does a service to Americans by beautifully illustrating these events from cover to cover. Not only is each occasion intimately detailed, but Philbrick records these instances in a precise and memorable rhythm. Although at times his novel might appear exhausting with vivid imagery, Philbrick’s thesis remains clear: In the
(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.
The Hero’s Journey of Texas History: Revolution and Republic In Texas History, there is nothing more well known than the Alamo and the Texas revolution. Almost everyone has heard the stories of Davy Crockett and his coonskin cap, or Jim Bowie and his famous Bowie knife. The Texas revolution was full of so many Texas legends and larger than life characters, so it only makes sense that the Hero’s Journey, a literary trope all about heroes overcoming obstacles, would apply to the riveting events of the Texas revolution. The start of the long journey that is the Texas revolution starts in the ordinary world, the first stage in the Hero’s Journey.
In the words of renowned historian Gary Clayton Anderson, the Rangers had embraced a “culture of war” that established violence as a necessary pillar for nation building in the Southwest. By the time the Mexican-American War concluded in 1848, Rangers had gained a reputation in the Southwest as abusers of authority that were guarded by impunity, a characteristic that made the Texas Rangers lethal throughout their
Thus in second chapter Haynes describes the matter of on-going pro-bank and contra-bank debates and collision of the interests of supporting groups that were involved in B.U.S. case. In seventh chapter, the author gives detailed account on annexation of Oregon and Texas. He explains the basis of the disagreement between England and America about Oregon territory. Haynes thoroughly analyzes the status of Texas at that time, and the claims that Mexico and the United States had over it. Further he discusses possible consequences for every country involved into conflict, if England decided to
Countless citizens in the 1840s and 1850s, feeling a sense of mission, believed that Almighty God had “manifestly’’ destined the American people for a hemispheric career. They would spread their uplifting and ennobling democratic institutions over at least the entire continent. Land greed and ideals—“empire’’ and “liberty’’—were thus conveniently conjoined. 14. What political party cost Henry Clay the popular vote in the state of New York, & what is ironic about Polk’s election in 1844 regarding this party’s position on Texas?
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.
“In exchange for his freedom, Santa Anna signed a treaty recognizing Texas’ independence” (Battle of San Jacinto, 2015). General Houston and his army were heavly inspired for victory following the massacres at the Alamo and Goliad. Santa Anna lost the Battle of San Jacinto due his previous viciousness, arrogance, and misuse of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets effectively. Had Santa Anna not made these mistakes, the Battle of San Jacinto would have turned out differently and Texas may have not won its independence from Mexico (Wright, n.d.). Introduction
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
Gordon S. Wood, “the preeminent historian of the Revolution”, is a well known American historian who has received several awards such as the Pulitzer and Bancroft Prize for his historical books. In his book, The American Revolution: A History, he breaks down the key events based on his experiences and knowledge on the Revolutionary period. Wood was born in Concord, Massachusetts on November 27,1933. Wood teaches at many liberal renowned universities such as Brown, Cambridge, Northwestern , and Harvard. Now being eighty one years old, he recently retired from Brown University and lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
The words seemed so unlike Houston.” Crisp believed that this speech he heard in its entirety in 1992 to be nothing like the man he grew up learning about in history as a child. He quotes Eugene C. Barker when questioning if the Revolution is the product of racial and political inheritances of the two sides, yet goes on to say this is not what he believes despite what others think. “It seemed to me that conflict between the two groups was not as much an immediate cause as it was an eventual consequence of Texas’s separation from Mexico.” (p. 41)