Alcatraz Island: A Brief History
explanatory Essay
1597 words
With the new prison, the U.S. Army ran a rather mild institution with minimum security. “Prisoners spent their days working and learning…Many prisoners worked as gardeners while a select few were employed as babysitters for the children of prison officers (Mahaney, Erin. History and Facts about Alcatraz. About.com).
Closing
The Great Depression of the 1930s resulted in the already pricey expenses to run the army barracks to almost double. The current prisoners were departed to other prisons in Kansas and New Jersey. In 1933, the Army deserted the prison.
Alcatraz would continue as a prison for more than 100 years, but just under a different control…
Federal Penitentiary
Establishing
Alcatraz was obtained by the federal bureau of prisons in 1934; the bureau decided to open a “maximum security-minimum privilege prison [for housing America’s most rebellious and uncontrollable inmates- not necessarily those who committed the rather most reprehensible/egregious crimes]…to show the law-abiding public that the Federal Government was serious about stopping the rampant crime of the…1930s” (Alcatraz Origins 2). The location of the island was surely an ideal one, for it was an extreme factor in the maximum security of Alcatraz prison – the island was surrounded by freezing waters and isolated miles from any other land.
As the federal penitentiary was established, a strict daily routine was arranged for the convicts that would soon start to arrive at the prison. The continuing daily cycle arranged for the Alcatraz inmates was designed to get them to follow prison rule. “Once prison officials felt an inmate would no longer pose a threat” (Alcatraz Origins 3), and could not only follow prison rules but would be able to act civi...
... middle of paper ...
...pport the Occupation.
As time went on, the Native American leadership couldn’t control all of the people that were on the island. Damage started to occur on the island, including several forms of vandalism such as graffiti and a fire that destroyed the Alcatraz lighthouse, the old Warden’s home, and the correctional officer social club. Most of the Native Americans left the Island.
On June 1971 Federal Marshalls removed what was left of the once large group.
In 1972 Alcatraz Island became part of the National Park Service Unit. Some repairs were made before the island opened to the public in fall of 1973, and some of the damages were kept, being mostly the vandalism, to show tourists that there were once people other than prisoners inhabiting the island.
Alcatraz Island is a “prominent tourist magnet,”(about.com) and receives about one million visitors per year.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the u.s. army ran a mild institution with minimal security. many prisoners worked as gardeners and babysitters for the children of prison officers.
- Explains that the army deserted alcatraz in 1933. the federal bureau of prisons decided to open a maximum security-minimum privilege prison for america's rebellious and uncontrollable inmates.
- Explains the daily routine arranged for alcatraz inmates was designed to get them to follow prison rules. harsh punishments were given if a prisoner possessed bad behavior.
- Explains that alcatraz housed several famous convicts such as alvin karpis and alaskan murderer robert stroud.
- Explains that alcatraz island was home to the prison staff and their families, which was ensible since it would be complicated for guards to board an island ferry to go to and from work every day.
- Explains that alcatraz prison guards received extensive training in prison procedures and regulations, self defense, conflict resolution, legal requirements, marksmanship, rehabilitation, investigation techniques, bureau policies, and the history of law enforcement.
- Explains that alcatraz was not bad of a prison if inmates behaved well. there were privileges for those who earned it through hard work and good behavior.
- Explains that baseball was a popular talk among the inmates, while softball was played during recreation time. inmates formed their own teams, from amateur to league teams.
- Explains how alcatraz's one man per cell policy, good food, radio jacks in prison cells, and privileges appealed to convicts who asked to be moved there.
- Explains that some inmates were fine with spending their sentence on alcatraz, but others wanted to leave early and planned escapes.
- Analyzes how six inmates overpowered cell house officers to obtain the keys that they had. the keys were not able to open the front door to leave the prison, and no other prisoners would help them.
- Narrates how morris, the anglins, and west crafted a messily made water raft out of raincoats and each of them created an actual head from clay and real hair from the barber shop.
- Explains that the alcatraz federal penitentiary was three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison.
- Explains that the federal government figured it would be more cost effective to build another maximum security prison somewhere else than to keep alcatraz prison open.
- Describes how alcatraz's prisoners were downsized and transferred to another institution. native american activists took over the island in 1969, citing an 1868 treaty.
- Explains that thousands of people came to alcatraz to support the native american occupation, including hippies, celebrities, school kids, vietnam war protesters, and others.
- Explains that the native american leadership couldn't control all of the people that were on the island. vandalism and fire destroyed alcatraz lighthouse, warden's home, and correctional officer social club.
- Explains that alcatraz island became part of the national park service unit in 1972. some repairs were made before the island opened to the public in fall of 1973.
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- Hauntings on the Island of the Alcatraz Prisonexplanatory essayWeiser, Kathy. “The Ghosts of Alcatraz.” Lengends of America. N.p., 2003. Web. 13 May 2014. .
In this essay, the author
- Describes the hauntings on the island of alcatraz prison, about freezing cells, extra counts, and mysterious murders. the ghosts roam the abandoned cells and linger in empty halls waiting to be noticed.
- Explains that the island of alcatraz started construction in the 1850’s and in 1861 the first unlucky prisoners stepped onto it. in 1868 the prison was designated for military convicts.
- Explains that the most haunted area on alcatraz is the "d" cell block, or solitary, as it was often called.
- Explains that prisoners have claimed that they have been attacked by a man with glowing eyes in or near cell block d, the isolation chambers.
- Explains that lighthouses are scary without the eerie sounds and feelings, and that the ghostly figures of the dead prisoners generated the lighthouse and created those spooky sounds.
- Explains that many people believe that ghosts are the problem, but others think there is a simple explanation to all the claims of sightings.
- Opines that alcatraz's reputation represents a lasting reminder, that no man is above the law, and for some, it is an eternal payback for their crimes against humanity.
- Describes the works cited about.com crime/punishment. n.p., n.d. web. 13 may 2014.
- Describes the ghost stories of alcatraz, and explains that they were published by ghost in my suitcase.
1067 wordsRead More - Did Anyone Ever Escape Alcatraz?analytical essayWe all know that prisoners lived on Alcatraz Island, but where did the guards and their families live? Since Alcatraz is not very big, guard families lived in building number sixty-four. There were three apartment buildings, one large duplex, and four wooden houses for senior officers. The Warden lived in a large home adjacent to the cell houses. He used inmates that had been reported to have good behavior to clean and cook for him. The Captain and the Associate Warden lived in the one duplex. A...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcatraz became known as "the rock" after the 1906 earthquake, where prisoners had to build a completely new prison. the three men performed perhaps the greatest escape in the history of prison escapes.
- Analyzes what prisoners ate at alcatraz in 1946: a vintage prison menu | open culture.
- Explains that alcatraz is one of the most haunted places in america and was home to some of america's most notorious criminals.
- Explains that alcatraz is a national park and tourist attraction. the prison tour takes you through the entire prison and shows you what the prisoners did in their time living there.
994 wordsRead More - Argumentative Essay On Alcatrazexplanatory essayAl Capone once said about Alcatraz " Don't mistake my kindness for weakness, I am kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember me about." One of the most dreaded prisons in America was Alcatraz, it was built on an island in the San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz was made for the United States most dangerous and difficult people during its years of being operated. Even though Alcatraz was built as a top end prison it was possible to escape, however it seemed prisoners never made it off the island alive.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcatraz was one of the most dreaded prisons in america, built on an island in the san francisco bay.
- Explains that juan manuel de ayala sailed into san francisco bay in 1775 to map and name alcatraz island, also known as pelican island due to the large population of sea birds
- Explains that the u.s. army wanted alcatraz to be a federal prison that could hold prisoners that were too dangerous. james a. johnston hired one guard for every three prisoners.
- Explains that life in prison today compared to alcatraz is not even close. prisoners were guaranteed shelter, food, medical care, and clothing.
- Explains that officials felt a man no longer posed an threat and could follow the rules (usually after an average of five years on alcatraz), then transferred back to another federal prison to finish his sentence and be released.
- Explains that most prisoners in alcatraz were not well-known gangsters, but there were famous prisoners over the years, such as alphonse gabriel capone and james "whitey" bulger.
- Explains that there were fourteen known attempts to escape from alcatraz involving thirty-six inmates. most of those would-be escapees did not wait until their transfer date to another prison.
- Explains that the three men that supposedly made the great escape were two brothers named john clarence anglin and fellow inmate frank "the mastermind" morris.
- Explains that the fbi and the prison came up empty handed in the first twenty-four hours of the search for the three inmates.
- Explains that alcatraz was three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison. it closed in 1963 because it cost more money to run.
- Explains that alcatraz was built as a top end prison, but prisoners never made it off the island alive. since 1973, it has become one of the most popular park service sites in the united states.
1670 wordsRead More - Men Who Were Sent to Alcatrazexplanatory essayThe Men who went to Alcatraz were sent there for misbehavior at other penitentiaries. No man was sent directly to Alcatraz. They were sent there for misconduct at other prisons. The men usually had also tried to break out of their old prison. The inmate got to the prison by being chained together put in a train car and shipped out to San Francisco. Once there without leaving the car; the train car was but on a boat and delivered to Alcatraz. When they stepped out of the cars they were marched around the island and into the reformatory. If the men ever got violent they would be sent to the Treatment Unit, or have pri...
In this essay, the author
- Explains alcatraz facts and figures. ocean view publishing company.
- States that dr. johnson, troy, and the national park service, u.s. department of the interior. alcatraz island.
- Describes the national park service's alcatraz island history and culture.
- Explains alcatraz history's "rules and regulations". ocean view publishing company.
- Describes the u.s.p alcatraz cell house diagram, published by ocean view publishing company.
- Describes how alcatraz was first used as a military prison in 1850, then closed in 1934, and was used to house the criminals who provoked problems at other jails.
731 wordsRead More - Alcatrazexplanatory essayOnce authorized by Congress, the US Department of Justice acquired control of Alcatraz Island, previously a US Army compound. As the island was redeveloped into a maximum-security prison, seven of its twelve acres were enclosed in a prison compound. The remaining five were set aside for employee residences, apartments, and recreational space. Soon after the redesigning of the old Army fortress, the Alcatraz prison was ready for the grand opening (or better said lockout!). Equipped with four different cellblocks, A, B, C and D, the Rock began its operations on January 2, 1934. Although cellblock A was seldom used, B, C and D provided 378 “cages” to accommodate the most notorious felons that America could produce.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the us penitentiary of alcatraz was born in 1934 and became the home of americas most wanted.
- Describes how the us department of justice acquired control of alcatraz island, previously a us army compound.
- Describes james a. johnston as the first of four wardens to take charge of the penitentiary. he was a well-organized, no-nonsense businessman with 12 years of experience in the california department of corrections.
- Explains that alcatraz was originally meant to confine only a few headline-makers of the era, but the vast majority was not to be found on wanted posters adorning post office walls.
- Explains that although many stories exist of escapes from alcatraz, only three men were successful in escaping the prison and the island. thirty-six prisoners were involved in attempts to escape.
- Explains that alcatraz was home to al capone for about four and a half years. he was transferred from us penitentiary atlanta in august of 1934 and was among the first "official" shipment of criminals to be received at the rock.
- Describes how george "machine gun" kelly arrived on the second "official" shipment of prisoners. after an initial sentence at leavenworth, he emerged from prison to a lucrative career in bank robbery and kidnapping.
- Narrates how alvin karpis joined capone and kelly at alcatraz in 1936. he became a petty thief and joined ma barker in violent robbery and kidnapping.
- Explains that the united states penitentiary of alcatraz was closed on march 21, 1963 and has not since reopened. the island was turned over to the general services administration (gsa) in may of 1963.
907 wordsRead More - The Yuma Territorial Prison As A Beacon Of Civilizationexplanatory essay...from stories of the time. While many sources say that they argue with the wild perpetuation in their first paragraph they then maintain an indefinite description of the prison and attempt not to give a detailed look at the components and history of the prison before it lost life when shutting down aside from those stories describing how wild the west was. With this I was also not able to talk to any true experts of the prison, nor visit the prison or those surviving the ones who lived there on either side of the law causing my knowledge and research to be limited to the web, which as before mentioned is limited by lack of fresh or widely varied information. Had there been more sources that went into detail about the prisons other features aside from its capacity I would have been able to give more than an educated, generalized guess on how the some of the prison was.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the yuma territorial prison served as a beacon of civilization and consequence for those who resisted human expansion’s natural progression.
- Explains that the prison, opened in 1876, was started by seven prisoners who built the first few cells. the lowell gun was superior to the gatling gun at the time.
- Explains that inmates were forced to keep themselves clean and shave weekly while receiving medical attention from the well-maintained and advanced hospital.
- Explains that the wild wild west and growing united states did not have much organization in verifying its citizens. many prisoners either refused to give little to any background on themselves or had nothing much to say leaving them as near ghosts in the system with no legal identity.
- Explains that only 26 convicts ever escaped the lockup, with the rest attempting the feat either dead on the spot or captured again with a ball and chain to discourage any more attempts.
- Explains that the yuma prison was originally planned to be built in phoenix, az, but was funded with plenty of money and replaced the word "phoenix" with "yuma."
- Describes how the prison was torn apart and destroyed by fires, weathering, and the need for space of new rails.
- Explains that they used a plethora of sources in writing their paper. they were unable to talk to any true experts or visit the prison.
1433 wordsRead More - Alcatrazopinion essayAlcatraz was a Federal Prison located in the San Francisco Bay. It was built on a twelve acre, solid rock island, one mile from the main land. There were no roads or bridges built to get there. The only access was by boat. The name Alcatraz means Pelican or strange bird. The reason it was named that was because when it was being built it had a lot of strange birds on it. It was built in 1933 as a federal maximum security prison. But prior to Alcatraz being built it had been a military prison and before that an Indian Reservation.
In this essay, the author
- Describes alcatraz as a federal prison located in the san francisco bay.
- Lists the famous inmates who served time at alcatraz, including al capone, george "machine gun" kelly, and robert "birdman" stroud.
- Describes how george "machine gun" kelly got his name by waving around a machine gun, threatening to blow everybody’s head off if they didn’t do what he said.
- Describes how robert "birdman" stroud was convicted of brutally murdering a bartender at mcneil island, washington state, and was transferred to leavenworth, kansas, where he was charged with murder and death by hanging.
- Explains that prisoners in alcatraz have four rights: food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. they could get some privileges such as working, family visits or visiting the prison library.
- Opines that although no one has ever escaped from alcatraz, 13 attempts were made and caught, 6 attempted were shot and killed and 2 men drowned on the 1 mile swim.
- Concludes that alcatraz was a very strong prison where an inmate who attempted escape had to be very sneaky and skilled. he would have to evade the watch tower and swim the mile of very frigid turbulent water to get to the mainland.
641 wordsRead More - Al Capone Went To Alcatraz: Illegal Barexplanatory essayAl Capone was someone who got well known for opening up thousands of illegal bars. He was also known for being the top notch gangster. The reason why he was opening up illegal bars was because of prohibition which led up to a law that no one liked. And the law was that you are not allowed to drink any kind of liquor or alcohol.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that al capone opened thousands of illegal bars and was known for being the top notch gangster. homer c. cummings wanted to stop all of these vicious criminals.
- Opines that prisoners spent most of their time in the 9 by 5 foot cells. they don't know why someone would try to escape.
- Explains that alcatraz was built in the deep freezing cold water for a reason. it would be hard for prisoners to escape because they would freeze to death or drown
- Explains that alcatraz was one of the most successful prisons ever built in america, but closed in 1963 because it was too expensive.
- Explains that alcatraz was shut down because prohibition ended in 1933 and all of the gangsters seemed under control.
324 wordsRead More - Private Prisons In Americaanalytical essayPrivate prisons are not a new occurrence in America. The first jails and prisons in the country were all private entities run for profit. They were not concerned with operating as an institution, but only as a business model, charging the government and prisoners’ families for their keep (Ogle, 1999). The commercial model of using prisoners as free labor and making profits from punishment began around 1825 with prisoner lease programs where prisoners were leased out to business as workers (Jing, 2010). These programs didn’t end until 1940 with the Summers-Amhurst Act (Jing, 2010). The early private prisons failed either because they lost legitimacy due to corruption and abuse,
In this essay, the author
- Explains that private prisons are not a new occurrence in america. they were run for profit, charging the government and prisoners’ families for their keep. the commercial model of using prisoners as free labor and making profits from punishment began around 1825.
- Explains that the percy amendment, passed in 1979, opened the door to the private prison industry as it is known today. texas was the first state to implement private corrections.
- Explains that the same trends that created private prisons in the 1800’s are also responsible for the growth of private prisoners.
- Explains that with the nation's prison population growing, state governments and the federal prison system have been forced to turn to the private sector for help. the objective of private prisons is to reduce overcrowding, acquire beds quickly, have operational flexibility, cost savings, and lower construction costs
- Explains that the economic reasons for prison privatization are often the most touted. private contractors are able to build prisons more cost effective than public entities because state governments are restricted by labor unions.
- Argues that private prisons operate more effectively and efficiently than public ones. according to jing, private correctional officers only make 59% of what public officers make. however, states with higher per inmate operating cost see significant savings.
- Argues that private prisons operate in a competitive market environment, and therefore have incentives to keep costs low, while still providing higher quality of service. corrections corporation of america and wackenhut correctional corporation hold 75% of the contracts.
- Explains that conservatives see it as conducive to smaller government and a way to break unionization. conservative social control in the legislatures has contributed to the overcrowding of prisons.
- Explains that the opposite of conservatism, neoliberalism, contributes to prison privatization. it encourages minimal bureaucracy and government control and creates an integrated market for correctional labor.
- Explains how the american judicial system has added to prison privatization in modern times. the courts often use incarceration as the first choice of punishment, even for minor offenses, in the war on drugs.
- Describes the concerns with the privatization of prisons, such as the lack of credentialed staff and the turnover rate of staff.
- Argues that the eighth amendment protects prisoners from cruel and unusual punishment, while the fifth and fourteenth amendments guarantee them due process. private prison officials are constitutionally unqualified to conduct good-time forfeiture hearings.
- Argues that the legitimacy issue of punishing people for profit is probably the most pressing issue in the private prison debate.
- Explains that private prisons must operate in both a technical and an institutional environment in order to survive and thrive. they are judged by their use of correct structures and processes according to societal beliefs.
- Argues that private prisons manage conflicting environmental constraints and increase the likelihood of their survival in five ways: acquiescence, compromise, avoidance, and defiance.
- Opines that private prisons must be held accountable to the taxpayers, local residents, and the inmates themselves in fair and humane treatment.
- Explains how states use contracts to hold private prisons accountable and protect social groups disadvantaged by contracting out. contracts are used in the formation of the prison, hiring qualified staff, and maintaining order.
- Explains that courts have determined that private, non-state actors may be held accountable, just as the states are under certain circumstances. the public function doctrine states that a state cannot free itself from constitutional limitations in the operation of its traditional functions.
- Explains that courts use the nexus test to identify points of contact between private contractors and the state, which allows them to impose constitutional limitations on the private enterprise.
- Explains that there are safeguards that can be implemented to hold private prisons accountable and ensure they are constitutionally compliant.
- Argues that the majority of private prisons outperform state-run facilities, but studies have been inconclusive on whether they are more economical.
- Explains that although private prisons pay their staff less than public corrections, they seem more enthusiastic and interested in their work with the inmates and had higher morale state staff.
- Explains that private prisons had fewer assaults than state, but more than federal ones. private institutions on average have a higher staff-to-inmate ratio compared to state institutions.
- Cites dunham, d. (1986), inmates' rights and the privatization of prisons, columbia law review, 86(7), 1475-1504.
- Analyzes lukemeyer, mccorkle, and price's views on the impact of privatization on prison conditions.
3047 wordsRead More - Alcatraz is an island located in San Francisco California. Its 1.25 miles offshore from the San Francisco bay.There is a prison located on Alcatraz island. The prison was opened August 11, 1934 and closed March 21, 1963. It was home 1,576 of the most horrific prisoners. Alcatraz island is twenty two acres all together. Alcatraz island was discovered in 1775 by a Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala. Juan Manuel de Ayala named the island “La Isla de los Alcatraces,” which translates to “The Island of the Pelicans”. In this satirical essay I believe the Native of Americans can take over Alcatraz.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes proclamation of the indians of alcatraz, a satirical essay about the whites' claim that they can't take the land because it's not being occupied.
- Explains that alcatraz is an island located in san francisco california. the island was discovered by juan manuel de ayala in 1775.
- Opines that the native of americans have the right to take over alcatraz because it is exactly what the whites did to them.
- Opines that the native american had many reasons to take the land of alcatraz as their own. the white men think it's suitable for an indian reservation.
- Analyzes how the indians of alcatraz write a satirical letter to the whites stating that they believe they can take over the city.
441 wordsRead More - Alcatraz Prison Research Paperexplanatory essayIn 1946, three inmates and two guards lost their lives in the worst escape attempt in the history of the penitentiary, the Battle of Alcatraz. The prisoners decided that if they couldn’t escape, they would die trying, and three of the men got their wish (Presnall, 2001). Another major event that happened at Alcatraz was the American Indian Occupation. Because the Sioux Indians had no authority to take Alcatraz and make it into whatever they wanted, the court declined their suit to possess the island. The Sioux’s argued to John Mitchell, attorney general, that they only wanted to use the island as a university for Indians. Eleven days after the Indians had originally come onto the island to claim Alcatraz in 1969, a large group of Indians then refused to leave the island because they felt they had the right to found a place for Native Americans to feel welcome and share their beliefs (Barter,
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcatraz federal penitentiary held the most infamous criminals in all of the united states, including al capone. high crime rates and the rising criminal population caused it to open.
- Explains that alcatraz is a maximum-security federal penitentiary used only to hold america's most infamous offenders.
- Explains that alcatraz had many purposes before it opened and after it shut down because of soaring prices to preserve it.
- Explains how alcatraz's harsh and brutal discipline of inmates prevented riots and escapes.
- Explains that some of the biggest prison escapes and conflicts in american history happened on alcatraz island.
- Opines that alcatraz is the greatest penitentiary in america and will continue to impact our communities for years to come.
- Explains how alcatraz impacted the lives of many people, including the guards, and the indians of the american indian occupation.
1178 wordsRead More - Alcatraz: America's Most Secure Prisonexplanatory essayLocated, on an island in the middle of San Fransisco Bay, Alcatraz nicknamed “The Rock”, which held inmates since the Civil War. In 1934, the highpoint of crime re-fortified Alcatraz into the world’s most secure prison at the time. Escaping the prison consisted of either dying of hypothermia, being dragged by high currents, being caught by the guards, drowning or not making it to land. With Alcatraz’s heavy built security escaping the prison had its level of difficulty yet, it never stoped Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how alcatraz, nicknamed "the rock", was the world's most secure prison at the time. escaping the prison involved dying of hypothermia, being dragged by high currents and being caught by the guards.
- Explains that frank morris, john and clarence anglin were the first and only people who were able to escape america’s highest security prison.
- Explains that frank morris arrived on alcatraz island in january 1960 as #az-1441. he has spent most of his life behind bars due to his mischievous behavior.
- Describes how morris and the anglins' escape fulfilled with items collected by inmates throughout their days such as spoons from the prison cafeteria, hair from prison barbershop, and raincoats stolen or donated.
359 wordsRead More - Alcatraz Before Capone Research Paperexplanatory essayIn the early 17th century, a Miwokian Native American traverses a 22-acre island, searching for the eggs of pelicans and other seabirds (Weirde 1). This native is unaware of the cultural and global impact the small, desolate island will have. Around the same period of time, an Ohlone Native American is exiled for violating tribal ordinances (“Pre-1769”). This Native American is homologously unaware that the island he is exiled on will ironically be used for a much similar purpose in only a few centuries as a federal penitentiary. Most Americans now know this island as Alcatraz; however, the island’s use before it housed a federal penitentiary is not typically well-known. When a typical American hears “Alcatraz”, they conjure up images of a maximum-security prison, Al Capone, and many other stereotypicalities. On the contrary, Alcatraz has a surprisingly rich pre-prison history.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the miwokian native american traverses a 22-acre island searching for eggs of pelicans and other seabirds, unaware of the cultural and global impact the small, desolate island will have.
- Describes the discovery of alcatraz by two spanish explorers, captain pedro fages and father juan crespi.
- Explains that juan manuel de ayala named the island de los alcatrazes because of its aridness and devoid of life.
- Explains that the united states government had not yet made official plans to reserve alcatraz for military use, but they saw it as a major asset for the defense of the san francisco bay area.
- Explains that alcatraz was seen as an asset, but no official plan for its use emerged until 1850.
- Explains that the u.s. government put into place a board of engineers for the pacific coast district (military fortress) on july 17, 1851.
- Describes how lieutenant zealous b. tower spearheaded construction on alcatraz island by chief engineer totten.
- Explains how tower transformed alcatraz from a desolate wasteland into wharves, roads, barracks and gun emplacements.
- Describes the civil war-era alcatraz. lieutenant mcpherson was succeeded by george henry elliot, who was concerned about the possibility of foreign attack on the pacific coast.
- Explains that the union garrison in san francisco focused their attention on a schooner called chapman, which was overtaken by the uss cyane and towed to alcatraz island.
- Explains that alcatraz was a military prison during the civil war — the garrison quartered on the site doubled in 1864, and the small prison was established for minor felonies and misdemeanors.
- Explains that alcatraz did not engage in heightened security during the spanish-american war.
- Opines that alcatraz's pre-prison history is full of important events and interesting statistics.
1706 wordsRead More - How Did Prohibition Limit Crimeexplanatory essayIt was almost inescapable. One of the reasons why was because the guards… The guards were top of the pole experienced guards. They were not to be messed with. There were more guards than a normal prison too. In a normal prison it was 1 guard for every 10 prisoners, but in Alcatraz it was 1 guard for every 3 prisoners. That more than 3x the amount of guards. There was even tear gas that would drop through the ceiling if there were riots. In addition, there were gun boxes and a control room that monitored everything. This was need to keep the prisoners under control.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the prohibition act was a law that was set by the government prohibiting beer to be drank and sold in bars.
- Explains that alcatraz was a special prison for the special prisoners. the guards were top-of-the-pole experienced and not to be messed with.
- Explains that the only riot on alcatraz was where 3 guards were killed. there were multiple escapes, but the bodies were never found in the san francisco bay.
- Explains that alcatraz was losing its power, the walls were decaying, and it was too expensive to fix and get the food and water out to the prison.
- Opines that alcatraz was one of the best super prisons in the world, but now it is resting and is a peaceful place.
578 wordsRead More