Life in Spanish MissionsLife in Spanish Missions

Spanish TexansSpanish Texans 1700’s – 3,500 colonists 1700’s – 3,500 colonists

lived in TXlived in TX Population in 3 main Population in 3 main

areasareas San Antonio – 2,000San Antonio – 2,000 La Bahia – 1,000La Bahia – 1,000 Nacogdoches – about 500Nacogdoches – about 500 Nuevo Santander – about Nuevo Santander – about

700700 Many colonists came to Many colonists came to

escape haciendasescape haciendas Others came due to Others came due to

oppressionoppression Colonists wants to trade Colonists wants to trade

with the French – illegal with the French – illegal in new Spainin new Spain

Four Types of SettlementsFour Types of Settlements

1. Missions1. Missions 2. Presidios2. Presidios 3. Pueblos3. Pueblos 4. Ranchos4. Ranchos

MissionsMissions Taught Native’s to be Taught Native’s to be

loyal subjects of Spainloyal subjects of Spain Hoped Native’s would Hoped Native’s would

become good laborers & become good laborers & make Spain more moneymake Spain more money

El Patronato RealEl Patronato Real A group of priests were A group of priests were

given the task of running given the task of running the TX missionsthe TX missions

Catholic church provided Catholic church provided priests for the mission & priests for the mission & the Spanish gov’t provided the Spanish gov’t provided the fundsthe funds

Spain and the Catholic Spain and the Catholic church were expected to church were expected to support each othersupport each other

Inside the MissionsInside the Missions

Square compoundSquare compound Towers on all four Towers on all four

cornerscorners Offices for priestsOffices for priests Workshops for spinning & Workshops for spinning &

weaving clothweaving cloth Shops for carpentry, iron Shops for carpentry, iron

works, and tailorsworks, and tailors Lands used for animals Lands used for animals

and cropsand crops Chapel was the focal Chapel was the focal

point of the communitypoint of the community

Daily Life in the MissionsDaily Life in the Missions Morning prayers followed by Morning prayers followed by

30 min. to an hour of religious 30 min. to an hour of religious educationeducation

After breakfastAfter breakfast Native’s worked the land and Native’s worked the land and

in workshopsin workshops Women worked in the kitchen Women worked in the kitchen

or spinning clothor spinning cloth Children went to schoolChildren went to school

After dinnerAfter dinner Everyone had religious Everyone had religious

education & prayers before education & prayers before bedbed

Hard TimesHard Times Native population began to Native population began to

shrinkshrink Many women died during child Many women died during child

birthbirth Presidios were costly to Presidios were costly to

protect the missionsprotect the missions• Soldiers forced to leaveSoldiers forced to leave

PresidiosPresidios Presidio LifePresidio Life

Soldiers enlisted for 10 yearsSoldiers enlisted for 10 years Faced years of hard work and Faced years of hard work and

constant dangerconstant danger Did not get along with priests Did not get along with priests

they were forced to protectthey were forced to protect DisagreementsDisagreements

• Led to long term distrust and Led to long term distrust and resentment of priest and resentment of priest and soldiersoldier

Did not pay wellDid not pay well• Had to buy their own uniforms, Had to buy their own uniforms,

weapons, & other equipmentweapons, & other equipment Soldiers were seen as Soldiers were seen as

customers instead of protectorscustomers instead of protectors Many took extra jobs to pay for Many took extra jobs to pay for

their itemstheir items Some brought their families Some brought their families

with themwith them Others married throughout their Others married throughout their

new communitynew community