Spanish Missions in Texas

Mission Locations

Corpus Christi de la Ysleta Mission 1682 Type Mission Date Established 1682 Mission Information: The French had entered the Gulf of Mexico Oldest Hispanic settlement in Texas Located a few miles from present-day El Paso

The French… 1st threat from France. 1682: La Salle sails down the Mississippi River and claims the land for France. 1685: La Salle & colonists built Fort St. Louis in Texas. 1st threat from France.

The Spanish learn of the expedition and begin searching for it. LaSalle Expedition New Spanish Policy: establish missions in East TX to convert the Tejas and protect the region from the French. De Leon and Massanet find the remains of Fort St. Louis and meet the Tejas. Alonso de Leon (Governor of Texas) and Father Massanet find 2 French survivors. The Spanish learn of the expedition and begin searching for it.

Mission 1690 San Francisco de los Tejas Mission Information: Type: Mission Date Established: 1690 Mission Information: Started by Father Massanet after expedition to destroy Fort St. Louis Caddo Hasinai: Spanish called them Tejas Drought and flood ruined crops Supplies scarce Indians rejected Catholic religion Outbreak of disease, & the Tejas blamed the Spanish Spaniards burned the mission and buried the bells in October of 1693

Mission Information: Mission 1699 San Juan Bautista Type: Mission Date Established: 1699 2nd threat from France Mission Information: Flourishing mission along the Rio Grande known as the “Mother of TX Missions” Father Hidalgo: priest who writes letter to French Governor Cadillac in Louisiana asking the French to build a mission in East Texas To check into trade opportunities, Louis de St. Denis was sent to San Juan Bautistia Along the way, St. Denis established a trading post at Natchitoches

Mission Information: Mission 1699 San Juan Bautista Type: Mission Date Established: 1699 Mission Information: Diego Ramon is the commander at the presidio St. Denis is arrested, but eventually released and marries Manuela (step- granddaughter of Captain Ramon) Spanish are convinced that the French want to move into Texas. Domingo Ramon sent (with St. Denis as guide) to establish missions in East Texas.

Mission Locations

East Texas Missions & Presidio Delores Many of these missions built under the leadership of Ramon and St. Denis Nuestra Padre San Francisco de los Tejas (re-established) Mission on Angelina River Mission in present day Nacogdoches Northwest Nacogdoches County Natcitoches (Louisiana) San Augustine Presidio Delores built on the Angelina River.

Mission Locations

East Texas Missions & Presidio Delores Problem: These missions are 500 miles from the nearest Spanish settlement!

Mission Locations

Spain needed a settlement midway between New Spain and East Texas Mission: San Antonio de Valero Type: Mission Date Established: 1718 Mission: San Antonio de Bexar Type: Presidio Date Established: 1718 Spain needed a settlement midway between New Spain and East Texas

San Antonio de Valero (Alamo) San Antonio de Bexar (presidio) Mission Information: Established by the Governor of Texas, Martin de Alarcon Alamo means: cottonwood Civil Settlement San Fernando de Bexar started with 15 families from the Canary Islands Heart of the city of San Antonio today El Camino Real (Royal Highway) developed from San Juan Bautista thru San Antonio to East Texas

Los Adaes 1719: France & Spain go to war 3rd threat from France: Established by Governor Aguayo after French soldiers seized a Spanish mission near Nacogdoches (called the “Chicken War”).

Mission Information: Mission 1719 Los Adaes Type: Mission Date Established: 1719 Mission Information: Mission located in Louisiana (near Natchitoches) This is French territory First unofficial capital of Texas

Mission Information: Presidio 1720 La Bahia Near modern-day Goliad Type: Presidio Date Established: 1720 Mission Information: Near modern-day Goliad Presidio is the only remaining Spanish presidio in the Western Hemisphere Served the Karankawa Indians

Presidio La Bahia Goliad, TX

Presidio La Bahia Goliad, TX

Presidio La Bahia Courtyard

Inside mission walls – cannon ramp

C A N O

Mission Locations

Mission 1720 Mission Information: San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo Type: Mission Date Established: 1720 Mission Information: Most successful Texas mission Father Antonio Margil de Jesus (priest from San Juan Bautista) requested, after the “Chicken War”, a site in San Antonio for another mission.

Jose de Escandon 1st Governor of Spanish area called Nuevo Santander between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River (lower Rio Grande valley). He founded over 20 Spanish towns and villages in this area and is known as the Father of the Lower Rio Grande River Valley.

Mission 1757 San Saba Mission Information: Type: Mission Date Established: 1757 Mission Information: Apaches would not stay in mission: Came for food Or to escape the Comanches Mission destroyed by the Comanche, Caddos, Tonkawas Mission burned Killed 3 of the missionaries Attack ended Spanish attempts to settle in Central Texas

1. How did the conflict between France and Spain affect Texas?

2. How successful were the missions in converting the Native Americans to the Spanish way of life?

3. Identify some examples (at least 2) of Spanish influence on modern-day Texas: