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VOICE ONE:
I’m Bob Doughty.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Phoebe Zimmermann with PEOPLE IN AMERICA from VOA SpecialEnglish. Today, we tell the story of Davy Crockett. He was a hunter,fighter, storyteller and elected official. For many people, herepresented the spirit of the American wilderness.
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VOICE ONE:
David Crockett was born in what is now Greene County, Tennesseein seventeen-eighty-six. He was the fifth of nine children born toJohn and Rebecca Hawkins Crockett.
Davy’s grandparents were among the first white people to live ineastern Tennessee. His grandfather had moved there in search of landto settle. Before Davy was born, his grandparents and other settlerswere killed by a group of native American Indian warriors.
Life in the wilderness was difficult. John Crockett repeatedlymoved his family in an effort to find a good place to live. Inseventeen-ninety-six, he opened a tavern, or drinking place. Thetavern was a popular stop for travelers. Davy probably heard manystories told by the people at his father’s tavern.
VOICE TWO:
Davy Crockett started attending a small school when he was aboutthirteen years old. A few days later, he fought with another boy atthe school. After that, Davy decided to run away from home to escapehis father’s punishment. For more than two years, he worked a numberof unskilled jobs to support himself. When Davy returned home, hewas so tall that his family did not recognize him. When they finallydid, they celebrated his return.
Two-hundred years ago, a boy either worked for his father orsurrendered his pay if he worked for someone else. To gain hisindependence, Davy worked for about a year to help pay his father’sdebts. He borrowed a gun from one employer and became good atshooting. Within a short time, Davy was a skilled hunter and trapperof wild animals. He was able to provide food and clothing forhimself and his family.
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VOICE ONE:
Davy Crockett married Polly Finley in eighteen-oh-six. At firstthey lived in a small place near Davy’s parents. Five years later,Davy, Polly and their two boys moved west into what is now LincolnCounty, Tennessee. Later, they settled in Franklin County, near whatwas then the territory of Alabama.
About this time, Creek Indian warriors killed many settlers atFort Mims, Alabama. When news of the attack reached Crockett, hejoined an army force under the command of Andrew Jackson. Crockettserved in the army during the Creek Indian War. He also exploredareas controlled by Indian warriors.
Crockett returned home when his military service ended. Hedecided to re-join the army in eighteen-fourteen, just before theTreaty of Ghent officially ended the fighting. At the time, GeneralJackson’s force was attempting to stop British-trained Indian forcesin Florida.
VOICE TWO:
Davy Crockett returned home after the war. His wife Polly died ineighteen-fifteen. Crockett needed a wife to raise his children. Ashort time later, he met and married Elizabeth Patton, whose husbandhad died.
More and more settlers were moving to Tennessee. Crockett seemedrestless and traveled many times into the wilderness. In Alabama, hebecame infected with malaria and almost died. Later, he and hisfamily moved again, this time to what would become Lawrence County,Tennessee.
Crockett was elected to the position of colonel in the localmilitary force. He also was appointed a local court official. Hebecame popular with the people and developed an interest inpolitics.
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VOICE ONE:
Davy Crockett loved the wilderness and became famous as a hunter.He also was a good storyteller. His stories were based partly onfact and partly on his imagination. For example, he told one storyabout an unusual experience when he was hunting. Crockett said theanimal he was hunting looked at him once and surrenderedimmediately, without a single shot being fired. He also told storiesabout killing more than one-hundred bears in six months.
Crockett was able to remember almost anything that he had heard.He found that his story-telling skills were helpful when he wascampaigning for political office. For example, he once memorized anopponent’s campaign speech word for word. Crockett repeated thespeech as his own during a debate. The opponent was so surprised tohear his own words that he was forced to make unprepared statements.
VOICE TWO:
Crockett won a seat in the Tennessee legislature ineighteen-twenty-one. As a lawmaker, he became an expert in landpolicy, especially in wilderness areas. Crockett always did what hebelieved was right. He thought others should do the same. He wasknown for these words: “Be always sure you are right, then goahead.”
After his term in office, Crockett decided to move his familyfurther into the wilderness. They settled in what is now GibsonCounty, Tennessee. Crockett was so popular there that he wasre-elected to the state legislature. Two years later, he was chosenas a candidate for a seat in the United States House ofRepresentatives. This time, however, he was defeated.
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VOICE ONE:
Crockett won a seat in the House of Representatives the secondtime he was nominated in eighteen-twenty-seven. He was re-electedtwo years later. During this period, another Tennessee native,General Andrew Jackson, was elected President. Crockett generallyclaimed to support President Jackson’s programs.
But he opposed the President and other members of Congress fromTennessee on several issues, including land reform. He also opposeda measure that forced Indian tribes from their native lands.However, even with Crockett’s opposition, the Indian ResettlementAct passed.
VOICE TWO:
President Jackson’s supporters prevented Crockett from winning athird term in Congress. However, he returned to the House ofRepresentatives in eighteen-thirty-three. By this time, his fame asa hunter, Indian fighter and storyteller was spreading. First, abook about Crockett was published. Later, he wrote a book about hislife. Several artists made paintings of the famous Tennesseewoodsman. Some pictures show him wearing clothing made of animalskins and a hat made of raccoon fur.
Crockett made several trips to speak in cities in the easternUnited States. The Whig political party provided support for thetrips. Some Whig leaders were considering Crockett as the party’scandidate for President in eighteen-thirty-six. However, his hopesfor a political future ended when he lost his seat in the House ofRepresentatives to a supporter of President Jackson.
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VOICE ONE:
After his political defeat, Davy Crockett had a desire to see thewilderness again. He set out with a number of other men to explorethe western area of Texas. Crockett believed that he could renew hispolitical life there. At the time, American settlers in Texas werefighting to gain independence from Mexico.
Crockett joined more than one-hundred-eighty men who hadestablished a fort at the Alamo, an old Roman Catholic mission inSan Antonio. The commander of the Texas Army ordered the men todestroy the Alamo. He did not believe it could be defended against astrong Mexican attack. However, the men disobeyed the order.
VOICE TWO:
When Mexican troops attacked the Alamo, the men battled againstthem for almost two weeks. But on March sixth, eighteen-thirty-six,Mexican forces captured the Alamo. Some historians believe that allthe defenders died in battle. Others believe that a few men survivedthe battle, but were executed. Davy Crockett died with the otherheroes at the Alamo. He was forty-nine years old.
After his death, Davy Crockett became even more famous andpopular. His life has been celebrated in books, plays, movies,television shows and songs, like this one.
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VOICE ONE:
This program was written by George Grow. It was produced by LawanDavis. You can download all of our program script text and mp3 audiofiles from WWW.VOA-STORY.COM, I’m Bob Doughty.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Phoebe Zimmermann. Join us again next week for PEOPLE INAMERICA from VOA Special English.