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Reilly, Joseph A.

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From: Reitly.Joseph <Joseph.A.ReilIy@drexel.edu> 
To: josephreilly@earthrtnk.net <josephreilly@earthtink.net> 
Subject: Notes for January 23, 2004 Presentation for Goodwin College, Orexel University. 
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 09:53:30 -0500 
CC: Reilty.Joseph <jar32@drexet.edu> 
5 
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Out l ine : 
1. Politics Age of Jackson. 
2. Economics Cracker Lifestyle. 
3. Mating Motivation for colonization. 
4. Ideology Society and aspriations. 
5. Technology Motivations and details. 
1. Politics: The Age of Jackson. 
Andrew Jackson, (1767-1845), dominant political figure of his era. 
Defined Presidency of 1820s through Lincoln Administrations. 
US President 1829 - 1837. 
Ended Virginia/Massachusetts Presidential dynasties. 
Man of the people: upwardly mobile military officer. 
Born in North Carolina, possibly Ireland, may have been older than he admitted. 
Money economy developed during his lifetime, money became routine for life changes. 
Pushed Indians out of settlement areas, likely model for Texian attitudes toward Mexicans. 
Aggressive and active, more than focused on rules or process. 
Developed hit and run tactics, distinct from set piece battles. 
Battle of New Orleans, 1815: only defensive posture: cannon and firearms devastated oncoming troops. 
New Orleans victory likely model for expectations at the Alamo. 
Jim Bowie a trooper under Jackson (saw no action), Crockett scout for Jackson in Creek War of 1813. 
Jackson in constant pain from wounds, stoic, hard worker, refused to rest. 
Offered to buy Texas for $5 million, 1830s, Mexicans insulted. 
Did not bring Texas into Union, had hoped to do so. 
2. Cracker Lifestyle (Grady McWhinney, CRACKER CULTURE.) 
CRAIC, pronounded CRACK, is Irish for telling stories, making jokes, friendly banter. 
Blarney South Restaurant in Philadelphia: CEOL CAINTE CRAIC: Music, Talk, Crack. 
"Crack" used in dialog in contemporary Irish TV show Ballykissangel. 
US South settled 1600-1800 by Celts, mostly Irish with some Scots and Welsh. 
They landed in Philadelphia, moved West and South. 
Every society has its ideology, its explanation of politics and economics. 
From Pastoral Culture: lived off herds of pigs or cattle, disliked farming. 
Economics focused on owning land as wealth and status. 
Jackson, Crockett called themselves "Irish." 
1840s on: massive Catholic immigration. 
Irish Protestants distanced selves from Famine immigrants, now called themselves Scotch Irish. 
Crackers often set up a homestead, improved it, sold it, moved on, routinely. 
Hospitable, warlike, admired military rather than any other role model. 
Lived life of Honor: avenge any insult, fight to preserve rights. 
Lived by sun, not clock. 
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Regularization of industrial culture developed life of Dignity (lawsuits to protect rights) 
live by clock, not sun. (Roger lane, MURDER IN AMERICA on Honor and Dignity.) 
Egalitarian POV: leader only in higher status, not a better quality of person. 
1800s Crackers lived off hogs or cattle herds, little farming, cotton less important than hogs. 
Many Crackers were squatters, no deeds to land they occupied. 
Crackers, like Celts generally, willing to fight if a cause is lost, per CUCHULAINN. 
Cracker culture has clear sense of respectability and status: land ownership 
3. Mating: Motivation for Colonization. 
Modern social class differences evolved in 1700s as Industrialism developed. 
Economic security and social status became important in mating. 
Middle class & upper class had courting. 
Lower class did as they wished, not likely to rise economically in any way. 
Women were supported in middle S upper classes in "the manner to which she was accustomed." 
Respectability rooted in economics and behavior. 
Class development meant upward mobility was possible. 
Education or social polish could be acquired as could furniture or a house. 
Bachelor Subculture developed in 1800s: some men could not marry due to economics. 
Age 35: 35% of men unmarried in 1800s, 10% of men never married. 
Men tended to form Fictive Families: friends who felt as if they were a family. 
Work groups, fire companies, military groups developed these feelings. 
Many immigrants into Texas came as groups: New Orleans Grays, Jack Hays' company. 
Mating was done by COURTING: family controlled access to marriageable females. 
In COURTING a woman made a debut at a cotillion, noted in newspapers. 
This debutante, usually 16 or so, could now receive gentleman callers. 
Interested men came to the house, gave their calling card. 
A given man was "received" or "not received" by family. 
If "received" he could meet with her with chaperone. 
James Bowie had to produce letters of credit about financial status to court Urusula Veramendi. 
Newcomers had to produce letters of reference, as per Mark Twain. 
She could have as many gentleman callers as possible: 
—1881 Tombstone Arizona, the 1 respectable unmarried woman had 36 callers. 
--GONE WITH THE WIND: Rhett Butler is not received due to being out late with a woman. 
—THE GLASS MENAGERIE: mother character had dozens of gentleman callers when young. 
Men were evaluated for personal behavior, acceptable due to economics. 
Poor men were usually not acceptable to middle or upper class families. 
Some men did not marry until 30s or later, until they were financially well set. 
Many settlers in Texas, 1820s and 1830s, listed as single landless men. 
These men probably looking for financial status to allow respectable marriage. 
4. Ideology. 
All settlers, Americans or Europeans, brought their ideology: explanation of politics and economics. 
Crackers willing to travel to seek land. 
1820s Mexican government granted land to settlers willing to buffer them from Comanche. 
Settlers were organized by EMPRESARIOS: real estate developers given political authority. 
1830: Texas population 75% or more Anglo Americans, some Europeans, Mexicans 10% or so. 
East Texas is fertile, good farming land. 
West Texas is dry, adequate grazing land. 
New settlers required to become Mexican citizens, convert to Catholicism, not to be taxed for 7 years. 
Texas land cost 12.5 cents an acre, good American land cost $1.25. 
1st crop allowed to be used as downpayment; squatters POV of improvement as ownership. 
5. Technology of Alamo siege. 
1830: Santa Anna, dictator of Mexico, sent English-fluent officer to review Texian progress. 
Report: Texians prospering and growing in numbers, some illegal immigrants. 
Santa Anna forbade new immigration, instituted taxes despite no taxation agreements. 
Texians refused to agree to dictatorial demands. 
November - December 1835: 
General Cos (Santa Anna's brother in law) occupied San Antonio (the major population center). 
Cos, with 800 or more troops, to enforce Santa Anna's laws. 
Texian volunteers led by James Bowie defeated Mexican Army in 4 battles, November - December. 
Cos and troops driven into Alamo. 
Cos and troops improvedfortifications and mounted cannon. 
Number of cannon reported as few as 14 or as many as 40. 
Starved out, Cos surrenders and leaves in December 
Cos signs treaty, agrees to never return. 
Cos leaves 800 or more muskets, powder and shot. 
Some Texians feel the revolution is won. 
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Some Texians, such as Bowie, are sure more is to come. 
Bowie could speak Spanish and French fluently. 
Bowie understood Mexican POV. 
Tuesday, February 23, 1836: 
Santa Anna and army arrive to San Antonio, village 2 miles from Alamo. 
Mexican army begins siege. 
Alamo partially prepared. 
Travis and Bowie and garrison occupy Alamo for siege. 
Sunday, March 6, 1836: 
13 days of bombardment by light cannon, 
probe assaults, constant sniping, 1800 assault Alamo, 5 a. m. 
By 6:30 a. m. most combat over. 
By 9 a. m. Alamo secure. 
Alamo as fort: 
—controlled northern road into Texas. 
— 3 to 6 acres, needed 600 - 1200 defenders. 
—largest number of cannon in Texas, west of Mississippi River. 
—Texians unable to storm it, expected it to hold off Mexicans. 
--800 or more Mexican muskets, power and shot. 
—50 - 60 invalids. 
--no transportation for invalids or cannon or weapons. 
—Mexican practice of slaughter of rebels, per Zacatecas in 1835, angered Texians. 
—model of Battle of New Orleans: cannon and rifle fire coald defeat standing army. 
--Cracker sharpshooting won previous battles. 
—Cracker rifles accurate 100 - 200 yards. 
--Cracker focus on military glory. 
--Cracker focus on Honor. 
—Mexican muskets accurate 80 yards. 
—Bowie a proven tactician and strategist. 
--relief from Goliad garrison and/or Sam Houston expected. 
—189 defenders known by name, Mexican accounts list 250 dead. 
—85 to 100 miles away, Golaid fort had 500 effectives. 
—controlled southern road into Texas. 
—James Fannin, West Point dropout, most experienced professional soldier in Texas. 
—Fannin an aide of Bowie's, expected to relieve Alamo. 
—Houston raising army elsewhere, close ties to Cherokee Nation, expected soon. 
Mexican point of view: 
—Santa Anna demanded absolute obedience. 
--routinely massacred rebels. 
—called himself "The Napoleon of the West." 
--planned to expel "pirates" to Louisiana forever. 
--wanted slaughter to terrorize Texians. 
—knew Bowie personally, personally insulted by Bowie's rebellious actions. 
—imitated Napoleon's tactics: firepower of one volley then a direct charge. 
—laudanum addict 
—distracted by local woman he married fraudulently. 
—ill with dysentery. 
—emptied jails & impressed Indians as untrained soldiers. 
—core of professional officers and enlisted men. 
--troops wore crossed white belts on chest: impressive, target. 
--unconcerned about casualties, no medical facilities. 
—hated Americans due to previous incompetent rebellions in 1813 & 1819. 
Notable defenders: 
James Bowie 
—born 17 96, Kentucky, parents were Scottish. 
—lived in various places. 
--fluent in Spanish and French. 
—understood Mexican ideology. 
--land swindler after Louisiana Purchase. 
—land dealer in Texas. 
—millionaire when many earned $1 a week. 
--heavy drinker. 
--6 feet tall, most men were 5 4 or so. 
—experienced guerilla against Mexican Army. 
—wife had died 1833. 
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--leader of War Party, for independence or US statehood, 
■—Lt. Col. of Volunteers, due to political enemies denying Regular Army commission. 
--possibly had a broken hip or leg. 
—serious respiratory illness, typhoid or pneumonia or tuberculosis: descriptions are vague, 
—possibly died of natural causes before assault. 
--various stories abound of his death: in sick room or after meeting Santa Anna. 
William Barrett Travis: 
--born South Carolina, 1609, mother Irish 5 father English. 
--considered stubbornness a virtue. 
—lawyer 
—fluent in Spanish 
--antt-Cathol ic and anti-Mexi can. 
—upwardly mobile 
--deserted 1st wife, son in 1831 
--often in debt 
--for Temperance. 
--diary lists 50 sexual liaisons 
--syphilis case 
—taking mercury for syphilis: short temper, short attention span, limited concentration. 
—idealistic 
—disorganized at times 
—Lt. Col. of cavalry in Regular Army 
--leader of War Party 
—eyewitness saw him die early 
— a story recorded he was captured, tried to bribe his way out 
David Crockett: 
—born North Carolina, 17S6. 
--former State Congressman B US Congressman 
--for squatters1 rights 
—subject of play LION OF THE WEST 
--subject of unauthorized biography 
--dictated autobiography 
—published an Almanack. 
—media celebrity 
—possible Presidential candidate 
—book tour 1834 
—received rifle at Philadelphia banquet he used at Alamo 
—voted out, told constituents to go to hell, he would go to Texas. 
--widowed once, carried lock of her hair in a locket 
--remarried for child-rearing s economics 
--low income level, to Texas for wealth and politics 
--Creek War veteran.- PTSD case 
— 5 10, dark hair, pale complexion 
—stories of death conflict: 
a. Mrs. Dickinson, Madame Candelaria, Ben, Joe, Creed Taylor's Mexican Captain friend all report his dead 
body before assault ended 
b. Defender found hiding, .said he was Crockett, reported as over 6 feet tall, white hair, ruddy 
complexion 
c. Colonel Crockett told Mrs. Dickinson he would never be cornered, would die in the open 
d. Mexicans reported one defender refused to retreat from in front of chapel. 
e. Eyewitnesses reported his body in front of chapel. 
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Joe Reilly, Ph. D. 
Coordinator of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences 
Goodwin College of Professional Studies 
(215)-895-0910. 
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Politics: Age of Jackson

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