VOA慢速英语2014 Remember the Alamo! 铭记阿拉莫事件

Remember the Alamo! 铭记阿拉莫事件

From VOA Learning English, welcome to The Making of a Nation, our weekly program of American history for people learning English. I’m Steve Ember.

来自voa英语学习，欢迎来到我们每周帮助大家学习英语的美国历史节目 “建国史话”。我是史蒂夫·安博。

The national election of 1832 put Andrew Jackson in the White House for a second term as president.

1832年的全国大选使安德鲁·杰克逊再次入主白宫，开始了他的第二个总统的任期。

One of the major events of his second term was the fight against the Bank of the United States.

在他第二个总统任期里的主要事件便是与美国银行的斗争。

In 1836, the bank’s charter ended, and the Treasury 1 Department took responsibility for most of the government’s finances. Many people considered Jackson’s bank veto one of the most important actions of his presidency 2.

在1836年，美国银行的契约结束，财政部便开始负责政府的主要的财政活动。许多的人认为杰克逊的银行否决权是在他的总统任期中最重要的议案之一。

Another major event of Andrew Jackson's second term as president involved Texas. The United States had given its claim to Texas to Spain in 1819. Then Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821. After that, Texas belonged to Mexico.

During the 1820s, Americans poured into Texas. Most of the settlers came from the states of Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. Many owned slaves and brought the slaves with them to Texas.

在19世纪20年代，大量的美国人进入了德克萨斯州。这些移民大多来自田纳西州，密西西比州和路易斯安那州。他们大多都拥有黑人奴隶，并带着奴隶来到了德克萨斯州。

American settlers in Texas were able to buy land for almost nothing. But they had to promise to join the Roman Catholic Church. They also had to promise to obey the laws of Mexico.

在德克萨斯的美国人几乎可以不花一分钱便得到大片的土地，但是他们必须要保证加入罗马天主教会，而且要准守墨西哥的法律。

Tensions grow between Texans and Mexicans

Over time, Mexican leaders saw the danger of continuing to permit Americans to settle in Texas. The Mexican government sent an official to inspect conditions along the border with the United States. The official reported that as he traveled north through Texas, he saw less and less that was Mexican and more and more that was American.

随着时间的推移，墨西哥的领导者觉察到允许大量美国人入住德克萨斯州的危险，墨西哥的政府派遣官员前往美国与墨西哥的边境检查其状况。这位官员报告说他向着德克萨斯州的北部前进时，看到越来越少的墨西哥人以及越来越多的美国人。

He said there were very few Mexicans in some towns. And these Mexicans, he said, were extremely poor. He said the American settlers were not becoming true Mexicans. They were not speaking Spanish. They were not becoming Catholics. And they were not accepting Mexican traditions.

他说在一些镇上仅有少数的墨西哥人，并且这些墨西哥人十分的贫穷。他还指出那些美国的定居民并没有真正成为墨西哥人，他们既不说西班牙语，也不信仰天主教，而且不接受墨西哥的传统文化。

The official said the situation in Texas could throw the whole Mexican nation into revolution. He urged Mexico to send troops to occupy Texas.

这位官员认为在德克萨斯州的情况可能会使墨西哥全国发生革命，他催促墨西哥政府向德克萨斯州运送武器以控制它。

The situation between the settlers and the Mexican government became increasingly tense.

美国定居民同墨西哥政府之间的关系逐渐紧张。

For the most part, there was little that President Andrew Jackson could do. The United States had a friendship treaty with Mexico. The government in Washington had a duty to remain neutral.

对于大多的部分，美国总统安德鲁·杰克逊可以做的事情很少。美国与墨西哥有一个友好贸易，因此华盛顿的政府在此问题上有义务保持中立。

In April 1833, the settlers in Texas held a convention. They prepared a list of appeals to the leader of Mexico, General Santa Anna.

在1833年的四月份，德克萨斯州的美国定居民举行了一个会议，准备了一系列的向墨西哥的领导者圣·安娜将军的呼吁信。

One of the Americans, Stephen Austin, carried the appeals to Mexico City. He spent six months negotiating with the Mexican government.

其中的一位美国人，斯蒂芬·奥斯汀带着呼吁信前往了墨西哥城，并花了六个月的时间与墨西哥政府进行谈判。

General Santa Anna promised to honor all the requests except one. He would not make Texas a Mexican state, although he said that might be possible someday. Stephen Austin was satisfied. He left the Mexican capital to return to Texas.

圣·安娜将军承诺尊敬几乎所有的要求，但是除了一个。他不会将德克萨斯变成一个墨西哥的州，虽然他指出在将来的某一天这将会变为可能。斯蒂芬·奥斯汀满意的离开了墨西哥的首都，返回的德克萨斯州。

On his way home, to his surprise, Austin was arrested. He was arrested because of a letter he had written earlier. He had written it when his negotiations 3 with Mexican officials seemed to be failing. He had said it might be best if the people declared Texas an independent state. Austin was put in prison in Mexico City for a year and a half.

在他返回的路上，令斯蒂芬十分惊讶的是他被捕了。而他被捕的原因是一封他早期撰写的信件。这个信件是在他认为与墨西哥政府的谈判即将失败的时候写下的，其中他认为如果德克萨斯州宣布成为一个独立的州会更好。奥斯汀被迫墨西哥城的监狱里待了一年半。

Stephen Austin urged the people of Texas to remain loyal to Mexico. But talk of rebellion had already begun. The settlers were calling themselves "Texans."

奥斯汀敦促德克萨斯州的民众忠于墨西哥政府，但是有关于德克萨斯州谋反策划已经开始，那些美国定居者称自己为德克萨斯人。

In November 1835, representatives from all parts of Texas held a convention to discuss the situation. They had no plans to take Texas out of the Mexican Republic. In fact, a proposal to do that was defeated by a large vote.

在1835年11月，来自德克萨斯州的各地代表举行了一个会议讨论当前的情况。他们没有任何让德克萨斯从墨西哥共和国独立的计划，实际上这个计划被压倒性的投票否决。

However, the Texans took action to protect themselves against Santa Anna, who had declared himself dictator. They organized a temporary state government. They also organized a state army. And they made plans for another convention.

然而，德克萨斯人采取行动从宣布自己是独裁者的圣·安娜处保护自己的权益。他们组织成立了临时性的州政府，并组建军队。他们还计划召开另一次会议。

Before the Texans could meet again, Santa Anna led an army of 7,000 men across the Rio Grande River into Texas. The first soldiers reached San Antonio on February 23. The Texas forces withdrew to an old Spanish mission church called the Alamo.

在德克萨斯人见面之前，圣·安娜领导7,000人的军队越过格兰德河进入了德克萨斯州。第一个士兵在二月23日到达圣安东尼奥，德克萨斯军队退守至一个叫做“阿拉莫”的古老的西班牙使命教堂。

On March 1, the second Texas convention opened. This time, the representatives voted to declare Texas a free, independent and sovereign republic. They wrote a constitution based on the Constitution of the United States. They created a government. David Burnet became president. Sam Houston was to continue as commander of Texas forces.

在三月1日，第二次德克萨斯大会开幕，这一次，大会投票通过德克萨斯州作为一个自由，独立和拥有主权的共和国。他们撰写了以美国宪法为基础的宪法，并创建一个政府。

The siege at the Alamo

On the second day of the convention, a letter came from the Alamo in San Antonio. The letter was addressed to the people of Texas and all Americans. The commander of Texas forces at the Alamo, Lieutenant 4 Colonel William Barrett Travis, wrote:

在大会的第二天，自圣安东尼奥的阿拉莫到来了一封信，信的收信人是德克萨斯人和所有的美国公民。阿拉莫军队司令，陆军中校，威廉姆·博润特·查瓦斯在信中写到：

“I am besieged 5, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna — I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man — The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion 7, otherwise, the garrison 8 are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken — I have answered the demand with a cannon 6 shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls — I shall never surrender or retreat.

“我被数千个或者更多的在圣·安娜控制下的军队围困，我忍受着24个小时持续不断地炮击和轰炸却没有损失一个人。敌人已经在投降上给予我们一个自由裁量权，否则，驻军将会倒在刀剑下。如果我们的堡垒被占领，我们将会用我们的大炮和在城墙上飘扬的旗帜来回答他们的要求，我们永远不会投降或是背叛！”

The letter from the Alamo closed with the words: "Victory or Death."

这封来自阿拉莫的信以“胜利或死亡”结尾。

Representatives at the convention wanted to leave immediately to go to the aid of the Texans at the Alamo. But Sam Houston told them it was their duty to remain and create a government for Texas. Houston would go there himself with a small force.

在大会的所有代表人都希望可以立刻离开去支援在阿拉莫的德克萨斯同伴，但是萨姆·霍斯特却告诉他们留在这里并创建一个政府他们的责任。而霍斯特将会自己带领一小队的军队前往增援。

The help came too late for the 189 men – perhaps even more – at the Alamo. The defenders 9 included some Tejanos, or Hispanic Texans, and the famed frontiersman Davy Crockett. Santa Anna's forces captured the mission on March 6. When the battle ended, not a single one of the defenders was still alive.

对于留在阿拉莫的189名或许更多一些的德克萨斯人来说，后援军来的太迟了，这些守卫者包括塔基纳斯，一些西班牙裔德州人和著名的拓荒者戴维克·罗基特。圣·安娜军队在三月6日攻破了碉堡，没有一位守卫者生还。

Sam Houston ordered all Texas forces to withdraw to the northeast — away from the Mexican army.

萨姆·霍斯特要求所有的军队退至远离墨西哥军队的东北部。

One group of Texans did not move fast enough. Santa Anna trapped them. He said the Texans would not be harmed if they surrendered. They did. One week later, they were marched to a field and shot. Only a few escaped to tell the story.

有一组德州军队转移的不够迅速，圣·安娜俘虏了他们，他说如果德州人投降便不会收到伤害。但是他却没有这样做，一个星期后，所有的俘虏被押送到一块场地并被射杀，仅有少数的成功逃脱并讲述了这个故事。

Santa Anna then moved against Sam Houston. He was sure his large army could defeat the remaining Texas force.

然后圣·安娜出兵阻挡着霍斯特的军队，他认为以他的大量的军队可以打败所有剩下的德州军。

President Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston were close friends. When told of Houston's retreat, the president pointed 10 to a map of Texas. He said: "If Sam Houston is worth anything, he will make his stand here.”

安德鲁·杰克逊总统与萨姆·霍斯特是十分要好的朋友，听说的霍斯特的撤退后，安德鲁指着德州的地图说：“如果萨姆·霍斯特真正是有能力的人，他会在这里立稳脚步。”

Jackson pointed to the mouth of the San Jacinto River.

安德鲁在地图上指着的是圣哈辛托河的河口。

Sam Houston makes his stand

铭记阿拉莫

The Battle of San Jacinto began at four o'clock in the afternoon. There were about 800 Texans. There were twice as many Mexicans. The Mexicans did not expect the retreating Texans to turn and fight. But they did.

在圣哈辛托河口的战争开始于下午的四点钟，当时大概有800余名德州人，而墨西哥政府军的数量大概是德州人的两倍。政府军没有料想撤退的德州军队会转身反击，但是他们的确这样做了。

Shouting "Remember the Alamo!" the Texans ran at the Mexican soldiers. Eighteen minutes later, the battle was over. Santa Anna's army was destroyed.

高呼着“铭记阿拉莫”，德州军队冲向墨西哥政府军，18分钟后，战争结束了，政府军队遭到了重创。

On May 14, 1836, Texas’ President David Burnet and General Santa Anna signed a treaty. The treaty made Texas independent from Mexico.

在1836年五月14号，德州总统大卫·博内特和军队司令萨姆·霍斯特与墨西哥政府签订了条约，这个条约承认了德克萨斯从墨西哥独立出来。

Historian Daniel Feller says President Jackson had to be careful when responding to the situation in Texas.

历史学家丹尼尔·菲勒指出：杰克逊总统必须在回应德州问题上十分小心。

“Whether or not Jackson approved of the insurrection in Texas, whether or not he saw it as complicating 11 or easing the path toward eventual 12 assimilation of Texas, there’s no doubt that he wanted Texas as part of the United States.”

“无论是杰克逊总统是否认同德州的起义，还是他将其看作使最终同化德州道路变得复杂或简单的因素，但是对于杰克逊总统希望德州成为美国的一部份的愿望是无需怀疑的。”

Jackson did not want Mexico to blame the United States for the revolution, even though the American government had been trying to buy Texas for many years.

杰克逊不希望墨西哥因为此次革命而指责美国，虽然数年间美国多次尝试着买回德州。

Jackson believed the country should spread as far west as it could. But he also worried that giving statehood to Texas would deepen the split between the northern and southern states. Texas would be a state where slavery was permitted. For this reason, the anti-slavery leaders in the North strongly opposed Texas statehood.

杰克逊认为美国可以尽可能的向西方扩展，但是他同时也担心给予德州建州权会加深南北各州之间的隔阂。德州将会成为唯一各位奴隶制度被允许的州，因此北方的反对奴隶制者强烈反对德州建州。

Jackson told a representative from Texas, William Wharton, that there was a way that statehood for Texas would bring the North and South together, instead of splitting them apart.

杰克逊告诉德州的代表威廉姆·华盛顿：有一种可以让德州建州同时是南北两方的各州联合一起而不是分裂的方法。

Jackson said Texas should claim California. The fishing interests of the North and East, said Jackson, wanted a port on the Pacific coast. Offer it to them, the president said, and they will soon forget that Texas is a slave state.  

杰克逊说德州应该要求加州。因为在东部与北部的渔业的收益者想要一个位于太平洋的港口，给他们提供一个港口，他们很快就会忘记德州还有奴隶制度。

Jackson and Wharton held this discussion just three weeks before the end of the president's term. Wharton spent much time at the White House.

杰克逊和华盛顿在总统任期的最后三个礼拜做出了这个决定。华盛顿大部分时间都呆在白宫里，他也同国会议员进行讨论，催促法律制定者认同德州。

He also worked with congressmen, urging the lawmakers to recognize Texas. He was able to get Congress to include in a bill a statement permitting the United States to send a minister to Texas. This bill was approved four days before the end of Jackson's term.

他同时成功得到一项国会的法案，包括在一份声明中允许美国派一名部长至德州。这份声明在杰克逊总统任期的倒数第四天被批准。

On the afternoon of March 3, 1837, Jackson agreed to recognize the new republic led by his old friend, Sam Houston.

1837年3月3日下午，杰克逊承认了他老朋友萨姆·霍斯特所领导的共和国。

Nine years would pass before Texas became an American state.

到德州成为美国的一个州将会有九年。

Jackson’s presidency was almost over. His legacy 13 and the election of 1836 will be our story next week.

杰克逊的总统生涯已经即将结束。他的传奇和1836年的大选将会成为我们下周的故事.