Alcatraz
Island has quite a distinct history. Many people know that served as a federal prison, but most are reluctant to know that this island served as fort. Built before the Civil War, it served two main purposes. First, that it was to guard the San Francisco bay area from enemy ships against a foreign invasion, and second, to hold hostage prisoners of war or POW's as they were called. In this report, I'll show you how this fortress came to be a federal prison, why it is no longer in operation today, and most importantly, to show why it was built in the first place. When the great "Gold Rush" of 1849 first started, California grew from what would be considered a small, unpopulated state, into ...
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to lie, to serve as a military fort. It was supposed to serve as a secondary base in companionship to another base located on the other side of Golden Gate Bridge. But with severe problems trying to build this other base, was to remain alone. "Out in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the island of is definitely a world unto itself. Isolation is just one of the many constants of island life for any inhabitant on Island. It is the most reoccurring theme in the unfolding history of Island. Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations, offering a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits to the public. Visitors to the island can not only explore the remnants of the prison, but learn of the American occupation of 1969 - 1971, early military fortifications and the West Coast's first and oldest operating lighthouse. These structures stand among the island's many natural features - gardens, tidepools, bird nests, and ...
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defenses after the Civil War. Rifled cannons were mounted. In 1854 some 450 electrically controlled underwater mines were brought to the island to protect the Bay. However, as the ships of potential enemies became more and more powerful, the defenses were increasing! ly obsolete. In 1907 officially ceased being a fortress and became Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison. Island's use as a prison began in December 1859 with the arrival of the first permanent garrison. Eleven of these soldiers were confined in the Sally Port basement. The Army recognized that the cold water (53 F) and swift currents surrounding made it an ideal site for a prison, and in 1861 the post was designated as ...
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Alcatraz. (2008, January 28). Retrieved April 27, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Alcatraz/78153
"Alcatraz." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 28 Jan. 2008. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Alcatraz/78153>
"Alcatraz." Essayworld.com. January 28, 2008. Accessed April 27, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Alcatraz/78153.
"Alcatraz." Essayworld.com. January 28, 2008. Accessed April 27, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Alcatraz/78153.
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