Alcatraz Research Paper

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Alcatraz Island has a rather distinct past. Even though Alcatraz sits in the middle of San Francisco Bay, the island seems distant, as if it were miles out of sea. The appeal to Alcatraz is uninviting, since it had played an important role in the history of California. Imagine being imprisoned in one of the world’s most disreputable prisons. However, not only is the island well known as the prison, but it was much more than a prison going back in time. Alcatraz was a prison for the worst criminals in history. Some include Al Capone, George Celino Barnes, and etc.
Spanish explorer Juan Miguel De Ayala had discovered Alcatraz Island in 1775. He was the first person to sail into what is now as San Francisco Bay. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, his voyage mapped out the bay and three islands and named one of them Alcatraces. As time continued the name Alcatraces changed to Alcatraz. There was a presidential order that was placed aside the island of Alcatraz for it to become a United States military reservation. During this …show more content…
In 1907 Alcatraz was selected as the “Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison”. There were projects going on during the World War 1. In instance there was a cell house that was created and within the cell house in a total of 600 cells, which each had a toilet and some electricity. “The island was re-named “Pacific Branch U.S. Disciplinary Barracks” and a new emphasis was put on education and rehabilitation (Legends of America)”. There was about 80 to 90 men at the prison who tried to escape. However, they were captured, some drowned, and the other prisoners are unknown about what exactly happened to them. Around 1933, the “army decided that the island was too expensive to operate (Legends of America)”. Since the location was part of the problem that the island was expensive is because they had to import water, food, supplies, and etc. Therefore, by 1933 the U.S. Army occupation

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