Alcatraz Island later invalidated the sale and paid Frémont nothing. Frémont and his heirs sued for compensation during protracted but unsuccessful legal battles that extended into the 1890s. Following the acquisition of California by the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) which ended the Mexican–American War, and the onset of the California Gold Rush the following year, the U.S. Army began studying the suitability of Alcatraz Island for the positioning of coastal batteries to protect the approaches to San Francisco Bay. In 1853, under the direction of Zealous B. Tower, the United States Army Corps of
Alcatraz Island in popular culture a makeshift task force to track down the inmates and prevent them from committing further crimes while also determining the reasons for their return. Alcatraz's isolated and fortified image has meant that it has been used as a location for fictional hostage scenarios in various instances. A number of books were written or co-authored by former Alcatraz prisoners, e.g.: "Island in the Sun", the band's debut single from 1983, makes multiple lyrical references to Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz Island in popular culture Alcatraz Island has appeared many times in popular culture. Its appeal as a picturesque film setting derives from its