词汇提示

1.conquerors 征服者

2.missions 传教士

3.authorities 当局者

4.charter 许可证

5.cattle ranching 肉牛放牧

6.infuriated 激怒

7.jail 监狱

8.besieged 被包围

9.surrendered 头像

10.commander 指挥官

11.fiery 暴躁的

12.crumble 倒塌

13.raging 激烈的

14.retreated 撤退

15.bulk 主体

16.advance troop 先遣部队

17.swamp land 沼泽地

18.siesta 午睡

原文

Remember The Alamo!

The first Europeans in the American Southwest were Spanish explorers and conquerors.

They were followed by religious orders that set up missions to Christianize the Indians.

One of these missions was San Antonio de Valero; it was founded in 1718 in what is now San Antonio, Texas.

Later, the mission structure became known as The Alamo.

In 1821, Moses Austin had persuaded the Spanish authorities to give him a charter to settle 200,000 acres in Texas.

The elder Austin died shortly after this.

Five weeks later, his son Stephen Austin traveled to San Antonioto have this charter confirmed by the Spanish governor.

In 1822, Austin led 150 settlers into Texas.

When Austin learned afterwards that Mexico was now independent of Spain,he journeyed to Mexico City to have his charter reconfirmed.

The Mexicans appointed Austin regional administrator for his colony.

Texas grew rapidly.

Cotton farming and cattle ranching were profitable and attracted American settlers.

By 1830, there were 16,000 Americans in Texas - four times the Spanish-Mexican population.

Sam Houston had been a successful soldier and politician.

He was a friend and supporter of President Andrew Jackson.

However, personal problems and political difficulties led him to leave the U.S.A. for Texas.

Meanwhile, the struggle for control of Mexico had been won in 1833 by Santa Ana.

However, the independent thinking of the Texans infuriated Santa Ana.

He had Stephen Austin thrown in jail, and sent an army into Texas.

Austin was released from jail in time to organize the defense of Texas.

The Mexican army was besieged inside the Alamo, and after fierce fighting, surrendered.

The Mexicans were allowed to go home.

Sam Houston was now elected the State's supreme commander.

Not long after this, Santa Ana approached Texas with an army of 6,000 men.

Houston decided not to meet Santa Ana in open battle but to wait for an advantage.

He sent frontiersman Jim Bowie to the Alamo.

Bowie's orders were to leave San Antonio and destroy the Alamo.

When Bowie arrived, however, Texas volunteers were preparing the Alamo for a siege.

Bowie and his men pitched in to help.

Other volunteers came.

The fiery William Travis arrived with 25 men.

Then, the famous frontiersman, Davy Crockett came with a dozen Tennessee sharpshooters.

When Santa Ana attacked, there were 183 Americans inside the fort.

Santa Ana brought up cannon to bombard the Alamo.

As the walls began to crumble, 4,000 Mexicans attacked from all four sides.

The Mexicans overcame all resistance because of their large numbers,but they suffered very heavy losses.

All the American defenders were killed.

While the battle was raging, the Texans back at the colony declared their independence from Mexico.

Sam Houston now gathered men to fight the Mexican army.

At first, he retreated while waiting for a suitable opportunity.

When Santa Ana's rapid advance left the bulk of the Mexican army behind, Houston prepared to fight.

Santa Ana's advance troops moved into swampy land by the San Jacinto River.

Houston's men attacked while the Mexicans were having their midday siesta.

Their battle cry was "Remember the Alamo!".

The battle was soon over.

Many Mexicans were killed, but only a couple of Texans were killed.

Santa Ana was a prisoner.

Santa Ana readily agreed now to recognize Texas as an independent republic.

Ninety years later, in 1845, Texas became the 28th State of the U.S.A.

翻译

记住阿拉莫！

美国西南部的第一批欧洲人是西班牙探险家和征服者。
随后，宗教组织设立了传教士，将印第安人基督教化。
其中一个任务是圣安东尼奥·德瓦莱罗；它于1718年在现在的德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市成立。
后来，任务被称为阿拉莫。
1821年，摩西·奥斯汀说服西班牙当局给他一份在德克萨斯州定居20万英亩土地的特许权。
老奥斯汀不久就去世了。
五周后，他的儿子斯蒂芬·奥斯汀前往圣安东尼奥，让西班牙总督确认这份宪章。
1822年，奥斯汀带领150名定居者进入德克萨斯州。
奥斯汀后来得知墨西哥现已独立于西班牙，于是前往墨西哥城重新确认其宪章。
墨西哥人任命奥斯汀为其殖民地的行政长官。
德克萨斯州发展迅速。
棉花种植和养牛业有利可图，吸引了美国定居者。
到1830年，德克萨斯州有16000名美国人，是西班牙裔墨西哥人口的四倍。
萨姆·休斯顿是一位成功的士兵和政治家。
他是安德鲁·杰克逊总统的朋友和支持者。
然而，个人问题和政治困难导致他离开美国前往德克萨斯州。
与此同时，1833年圣安娜赢得了对墨西哥的控制权。
然而，德克萨斯人的独立思想激怒了圣安娜。
他将斯蒂芬·奥斯汀投入监狱，并向德克萨斯州派遣了一支军队。
奥斯汀及时获释，以组织德克萨斯州的抵抗。
墨西哥军队在阿拉莫被包围，经过激烈的战斗后投降。
墨西哥人被允许回家。
萨姆·休斯顿当选为该州最高指挥官。
此后不久，圣安娜率领6000人的军队接近德克萨斯州。
休斯顿决定不在公开战中与圣安娜交锋，而是等待优势机会。
他派边锋吉姆·鲍伊去阿拉莫。
鲍伊的命令是离开圣安东尼奥，摧毁阿拉莫。
然而，当鲍伊抵达时，德克萨斯州的志愿者正在为阿拉莫的围攻做准备。
鲍伊和他的部下投入到帮助中。
其他志愿者也来了。
脾气暴躁的威廉·特拉维斯带着25个人来到这里。
然后，著名的拓荒者戴维·克罗基特带着十几名田纳西神枪手来到这里。
圣安娜袭击时，堡垒内有183名美国人。
圣安娜举起大炮轰炸阿拉莫。
随着城墙开始倒塌，4000名墨西哥人从四面八方发起攻击。
墨西哥人克服了所有阻力，因为他们的人数众多，但他们遭受了非常严重的损失。
所有的美国保卫者都被杀了。
当战斗激烈时，回到殖民地的德克萨斯人宣布脱离墨西哥独立。
山姆·休斯顿现在集结兵力与墨西哥军队作战。
起初，他在等待合适的机会时撤退了。
当圣安娜的快速推进将大部分墨西哥军队甩在身后时，休斯顿准备战斗。
圣安娜的先遣部队进入圣哈辛托河旁的沼泽地。
休斯顿的人在墨西哥人午睡时发动袭击。
他们的战斗口号是“记住阿拉莫！”
战斗很快结束了。
许多墨西哥人被杀，但只有几个德克萨斯人被杀。
圣安娜是个囚犯。
圣安娜现在欣然同意承认德克萨斯州为独立共和国。
90年后的1845年，德克萨斯州成为美国的第28个州。

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Level 4-Day 14.Remember The Alamo!