Life in Spanish Texas

Most were seeking better lives. The Spanish Texans Most were seeking better lives.

Four Types of Frontier Settlements Settlers had to work together to survive. They established four kinds of settlements in the frontier 1. Missions 2. Presidios 3. Towns 4. Ranchos

SPANISH CONTROL OF THE TEXAS BORDERLANDS To control the Texas borderlands the Spanish built 4 types of settlements: missions – religious communities presidios – military bases towns – small villages with farmers and merchants ranchos – or ranches

MISSIONS

Missions Missions had: 1. walls surrounding them for protection By 1750, there were more than 20 Spanish missions in Texas. They were run by a friar (Catholic priest). Most were built near Indian villages, in hopes to convert the Indians. Missions had: 1. walls surrounding them for protection 2. houses, school, church, and workplaces 3. most had farms and ranches

Why were missions built in Texas? Spain wanted land in Texas. France also wanted the same land. Spain established missions to protect their interests. They used native people they had converted to help them. Spain hoped that the resources in the Americas would pay for their exploration and colonization throughout the world. Spain wanted everyone to be a Catholic. Their goal was to convert the Native Americans to their way of worship and thinking. The churches in the missions served this function.

Native Texans Came to missions to avoid hunger and enemy tribes Were forced to do mission work such as build buildings Left missions because they did not like being bossed around by the priests Most Native Texans returned to missions over and over because of hunger

Missions

Missions

THE SPANISH ESTABLISHED MISSIONS ALONG THE WESTERN RIO GRANDE

Missions In 1682, the Spanish built the first mission in Texas, just east of present-day El Paso. This mission was called Corpus Christi de la Ysleta.

Spanish Settlements on the Frontier To control the borderlands Mission System Goal Four types of Spanish settlements Represent Spanish govern- ment there Convert American Indians there to Catholicism Develop settlements there missions, presidios, towns, ranchos

convert Native Texans to the Catholic faith MISSIONS PURPOSE colonizing Texas convert Native Texans to the Catholic faith taught the natives to be good citizens taught natives to be loyal subjects of the Spanish crown =

Daily Life in the Missions Morning Prayers 30 minutes of religious teaching Rosary Breakfast Work in the fields or workshops for the men Work in the kitchen or cooking for the women School for the children Dinner Religious teaching Prayers Bedtime And if you didn't like it . . . You might be punished for not working. You could be recaptured if you tried to run away. You might have to return to hunger and cold winters outside the mission. Brrrrr….

Make the natives good subjects Type Purpose Physical Description Daily Life Mission spread Christianity Make the natives good subjects square compound 4 walls chapel religious teaching work Presidio Military support To protect the mission Rectangular Tall walls Places for the soldiers to sleep Harsh life Soldiers protected mission Kept natives out TOWN Provided support for the missions and the presidio Houses made of local material Blacksmiths, bakers, gunsmiths Only wealthy learned to read Rancho (RANCH) Provided food and supplies for the colonies Large pieces of land with little grass Extreme weather conditions Vaqueros took care of livestock