American History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

American History - Assignment Example 1800s, soldiers stationed at the former mission named the place as the Alamo which means â€Å"cottonwood† in Spanish — in reference to where these men came from, Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. For years, the Alamo became the home of Mexican revolutionaries and royalists during the war for independence. The military — Spanish, Rebel, and then Mexican — continued to occupy the Alamo until the Texas Revolution. Though Texians and Tejano volunteers were able to successfully occupy the Alamo in 1835, they were greeted by a surprise attack from General Santa Anna’s army – an assault which was held out for 13 days. Because of the intensity of the battle, the commander of the Alamo, Col. Travis sent forth couriers asking for help to communities in Texas. However, as the hope for outside help faded, Col. Travis drew a line on the ground and asked those who were willing to fight to step over. All of them except one stayed to defend the Alamo. The defenders risked their lives to protect the key to Texas’ defense. They would rather die than surrender to General Santa Anna’s army. Before the daybreak in March 6, 1836, the final assault of Mexican soldiers came as they scaled the walls and rushed inside the compound. The battle still continued as defenders continued to desperately fight the enemies. However, by sunrise, the battle ended as General Santa Anna entered the compound to proclaim his victory. At first, I found it rather odd that defenders wrote extensively about the weather in Texas. However, in my view, the defenders found Texas weather to be rather odd and new for them. That is why, in their journal entries, defenders took time to note and comment heavily about the weather. For historians, the weather diary is important to dispel the myth that in 1835 the coldest winter swept through Texas. This idea was held on because Mexican troops encountered a freak blizzard as they were on their way to Texas during the night of February 13 onwards. However,