Missions and Settlementsp.118

First Missions are Built

Spain looks to Texas Mission of Corpus Christi de la Ysleta – 1st

permanent settlement of Europeans in Texas.

Near present day El Paso. Spain made stronger effort to colonize

Texas after the arrival of La Salle in 1685. Presidio – military outpost Spain built missions, presidios and towns

in lands occupied by Native Americans.

A Tejas Mission Tejas is Native American word for

friend. San Francisco de los Tejas – First

Spanish mission in east Texas.

A Mission Abandoned The San Francisco de los Tejas

Mission had trouble:Drought ruined cropDisease killed many Native Americans

The Tejas rejected the Catholic religion and resented the Spaniards

It was abandoned, but the presence strengthened Spain’s claim to Texas.

France Threatens Again France makes another attempt to

claim lands by the Mississippi River. French were not interested in taking

territory or converting the Native Americans

French traded with the Native Americans and became their friends.

France Threatens Again The French attempted to establish a

French mission for trade at the request of a Spanish priest.

When Louis de St. Denis arrived to negotiate the trade he was arrested and sent to the Spanish viceroy.

The viceroy did not believe that France had no plans to occupy East Texas.

Spain built new missions in East Texas using Louis de St. Denis as their guide and interpreter.

Missions are Established in East Texas

Within a year, the Spanish had established 6 missions and a small fort in east Texas.

San Antonio is Founded Spanish officials realized the need for

a mission midway between New Spain and the new missions.

Presidio San Antonio de Bexar was set up near the San Antonio River. Later called San Antonio.

In 1718, Mission San Antonio de Valero was built. This mission became known as the Alamo.

Aguayo Defends the Missions War broke out between Spain and

France in 1719 This halted the settling of East Texas. French soldiers from Louisiana seized

the Spanish mission near present day Nacogdoches.

The viceroy of New Spain sent Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo to take back East Texas.

Aguayo Founds Two Cities Aguayo built a large presidio,

Nuestra Senora del Pilar de los Adaes, in Louisiana.

French commander St. Denis claimed the presidio was in French territory, but never tried to drive them away.

Aguayo established Los Adaes which became the unofficial capital of Texas in 1722 and remained it for 50 years.

Plains People Resent Missions Spanish missionaries traveled among

Native Americans converting them to Catholicism.

Most Native Americans were not interested in Catholicism but were rarely threatening.

Plains Indians (Apache and Comanche) resented the Spaniards and raided their settlements regularly.

Life in the Missions Friars tried to persuade Native

Americans to live close to the missions.

Sometimes they forced Native Americans to settle near the missions.

Native Americans who lived on the mission were kept busy from dusk to dawn.

Some adapted to mission life, but most left. They were not accustomed to regulated life.

Soldiers Face Hardships Spanish soldiers duties included:

Protecting the mission and nearby settlements.

Maintaining control over the Native Americans

Scouting the countryside for intruders. The military men were often equipped

and lived under difficult conditions. Soldiers were accused of taking advantage of

the Native Americans, who did not know Spanish ways.

Imported Settlements in Spanish Texas San Antonio – largest settlement

and by 1772 served as the capital. Spanish officials imported 15

families from the Canary Islands in order to increase the population at San Antonio.

Other important settlements: Goliad Los Adaes Nacogdoches

Living in Spanish Texas Spaniards made a living as farmers,

ranchers, shopkeepers, shoemakers, fishers, barbers, etc…

The population was made up of Spaniards, Native Americans and Mestizos- both Spanish and Native American heritage.

A Tejano Heritage Takes Shape Tejano describes people of Mexican

heritage who consider Texas their home.

This heritage is reflected in the population, religion, language, institutions, and customs of Texans today.

Tejanos started the first community school in San Antonio.