The Spanish Colonial Period

Spanish Settlements on the Frontier Mission-Presidio System Missions were religious communities started by missionaries sent by Spanish government. The purpose of missions was to convert Native Americans to Catholicism and teach them the Spanish way of life. Civilians were sent to the missions to teach Native Americans about farming. Native Americans were expected to build and maintain the missions. Presidios were military bases that provided protection for the missions.

What were the daily activities? Where were they located? Missions Presidios Towns Ranches What was the purpose? -Spread Catholic religion. -convert the Indians. Protect Missions from Indian and French attacks. Housing, provide shops and services. Provide cattle and farm products sold to towns and presidios. Who lived there? Indians Priests - Soldiers Spanish citizens and converted Indians. Vaqueros – Spanish cowboys What were the daily activities? Prayers, meals, farming, work, Bible studies, Spanish lessons Military drills, training, and patrols Run businesses, provide goods and services - Take care of cattle and farming - Beginning of ranching economy Where were they located? Mostly in Coastal Plains and by rivers because of fertile land (farming). Close to the missions to protect them. Along roads (El Camino Real) - Started in Mexico and went all the way to East Texas. Away from towns but close enough to presidios for protection.

New Settlements Along the Rio Grande In the 1600s the Spanish settled along the upper Rio Grande in New Mexico. The Spanish tried to force the Pueblo to grow food for them and tried to stop them from practicing their traditional religious beliefs. When the Pueblo revolted, the Spanish were forced out of northern New Mexico. * A revolt is a rebellion/revolution. The Spanish fled south to the Rio Grande and established El Paso del Norte. By 1682 five new settlements had been established along south bank of the Rio Grande including Ysleta.

The French Challenge La Salle’s Expedition France had claimed Canada and were exploring the Great Lakes, Ohio River, Missouri River & Mississippi River. La Salle claimed all the drained by the Mississippi River for France and called it Louisiana. The French wanted to establish a colony near New Spain to conquer Spanish silver mines. La Salle overshot his destination and ended up at Matagorda Bay on the Texas coast. The French moved inland and built a settlement called Fort St. Louis.

Fort St. Louis Among the problems at Fort St. Louis were hunger, disease, and attacks from the Karankawa. La Salle tried to save the colony by going to Canada for help. La Salle was murdered by his own men. Only six of La Salle’s party made it back to Canada. The colony was destroyed by the Karankawa. All the adults were killed and five children were captured. Despite the failure of Fort St. Louis it gave France a claim on Texas and challenged Spain’s empire north of the Rio Grande.

The Spanish Search for La Salle After the founding of Fort St. Louis the Spanish tried to drive the French from Texas. Alonso de Leon and Father Damian Massanet were sent to search for La Salle but found only two French survivors living with Indians. During this time the Spanish met a group of Hasinai (Caddo) Indians and called them Tejas, the Hasinai word for “friend”.

Spanish Missions in East Texas Father Massanet and Alonso de Leon each advised the viceroy to set up missions in East Texas. Father Massanett founded San Francisco de los Tejas in East Texas. * Droughts and floods ruined the crops and supplies were scarce. * The Natives turned on the Spanish after an outbreak of disease. * The Spanish burned the mission to the ground, buried the mission bells, and fled to Mexico.

The Spanish Return to Texas Back to East Texas After the failure of San Francisco de los Tejas the Spanish ignored East Texas for the next 20 years. When Spain refused to build missions in East Texas Father Miguel Hidalgo asked the governor of Louisiana. * This was an issue because Spain & France were enemies. St. Denis was sent to Texas to find Father Hidalgo and set up trade with Spanish colonists. St. Denis was arrested but treated well. Fearing a French threat the Spanish sent Antonio Margil de Jesus to build more missions in East Texas. The Spanish sent soldiers to protect the new missions.

The San Antonio Settlements The Spanish felt the mission in East Texas failed because they were too far away from Spanish settlements. The Spanish felt building an outpost between the missions and the Rio Grande would solve this. Mission San Antonio de Valero was built in 1718. Over the next five years the Spanish built several more missions along the San Antonio River. The San Antonio mission succeeded because the climate was better, and Indian groups worked and lived in the missions. Families from the Canary Islands were brought to San Antonio to establish a civil presence in the area. A long road, called the El Camino Real, was built to connect the missions in East Texas and Mexico City.

The Expansion of Spanish Settlement The Aguayo Expedition The Spanish began to flee when they thought the French were invading East Texas (The Chicken War). The Aguayo Expedition was sent to drive the French from East Texas and rebuild the missions. In all the Spanish built 8 missions and 3 presidios. One of the presidios, Los Adeas, served as the capital of Spanish Texas. Another presidio, La Bahia, became one of the largest settlements in Texas.

New Settlements on the Rio Grande The Aguayo Expedition secured East Texas for Spain. Spain was eager to colonize the uninhabited area along the Gulf Coast to serve as a buffer between Spanish settlements and other European claims. Jose de Escandon moved to La Bahia to establish a colony in the region. Escandon offered people free land to move to the region. Escandon founded 24 settlements in six years, including Laredo, along the Rio Grande. Escandon also built 15 missions and two mining camps.

Clashes On the Frontier Missionaries were eager to build more missions north of Escondon’s settlements. Mission San Saba in 1757 after some Apache chiefs asked to be taught about Spanish culture. Many Apaches came to San Saba but left to raid their enemies. Comanches, Caddos, Tonkawas, and other groups attacked the Apaches and their allies at San Saba. * The group stole horses from the presidio, burned the mission, and killed two missionaries. The failure of San Saba ended Spanish attempts to move into Central Texas.

Life in Spanish Texas Life in the Missions Days in the missions began with religious services. Men tended to the crops while women made pottery, cared for livestock, wove cloth, and ran the kitchen. The Natives were also taught Spanish songs and dances, hoping they would forget their traditional celebrations. Life was hard for the Native Americans because they had to grow food for themselves and the Spanish and were not allowed to leave the mission. The San Antonio missions were the most successful missions in Texas.

Life in the Presidios Missions were more likely to succeed if a presidio was nearby. Soldiers duties included guarding the missions, protecting the horses, supervising the Indians in the missions, and escorting travelers. Soldiers received low pay, had poor equipment, and had worn and ragged uniforms. Missionaries and soldiers often argued over who had the most authority. Despite these hardships many soldiers brought their families with them.

Life in the Settlements Settlements in Texas had a diverse population of Spaniards, Native Americans, and free African Americans. San Antonio was the largest settlement in Texas and the first to allow people to participate in government. The economy of settlements was based on farming and ranching. * Vaqueros worked on ranches near settlements. Most social activities focused on family and church.

Spanish Missions Video Notes: #22 #23 The Spanish built settlements north of Mexico (Texas) to create a buffer between New Spain and other European claims in the New World.