Race to Claim TexasCh. 6 Sect. 1 & 2

Spain: 1 France: 0

• Late 1600s to the early 1700s Spain made their move from Mexico and New Mexico

• Their Goal?• Destroy La Salle!!!

Alonso De Leon

• Sent to explore the Rio Grande and the Neches Rivers

• 3 years and 4 expeditions later…• …He found Fort St. Louis in

ruins

• Continued into East Texas and found the Caddoes, which he named the “Tejas”• Leon like their fertile soil,

good climate, and friendly people

Beginning of the Missions

• Spanish Viceroy asked Leon and Massanet to convert the Caddoes to Catholicism

• “Land of the Tejas”

• Established San Francisco de Los Tejas

Friendliness + Trade Networks

= Spreading Religion and Gaining Land and Money for

Spain

...Right?

…WRONG!

First Missions Fail

Problems…

• Drought

• Crisis

• Hostile Natives

• Lack of interest in giving up their way of life, clearing lands, working to support mission, etc.

Solutions…

• Need a constant flow of supplies

• Establish settlements before continuing

• Provide Military Support

Ultimately Spain ended its attempt in 1693

Reclaiming East TX

• Spain lost interest for a long time until the French decided to try again

• 1st order of business:• Reopen San Francisco de los Tejas (1716)• Solve the supply problem between Mexico and East TX

Reclaiming East TX

• Created a mission and presidio for supplies• San Antonio de Valero• San Antonio de Bexar*

• Created six other missions that year for the advancement of Spain

The Ultimate Showdown…

The Chicken War!

Big Picture: France and Spain were

fighting a war over the Italian IslandS

Our Picture:

• France transferred their hostilities to TX and sent Lt. Blondel to raid Spanish missions

• Exaggeration Station!

• Missionaries, families, soldiers, etc. panic and flee the area giving France the upper hand