Spanish v. French Exploration Unit 2

Spanish Geographic Mapped the Texas Coast 1st group through the interior of Texas Establish Mexico City as the capital New Spain (built on Tenochtitlan)

French Geographic About 150 years late to the party (1680s) Landed (on accident) at Matagorda Bay and built Fort St. Louis Goal was to find New Orleans and control entire Mississippi River Staked claims in Texas AND Louisiana Tried to keep track of and avoid Spanish movements

La Salle’s Exploration in Texas

Spanish Economic Searched for Riches Cibola Quivira Helped to develop the ranching industry Led to the (eventual) end of the buffalo

French Economic Goal was to control trade up and down the Mississippi River Claimed the mouth of the Mississippi River (in the Gulf of Mexico) Searched for silver to add to stockpile Had to worry about Spanish AND English colonists/explorers

French, Spanish, and English Exploration Map

Spanish Social Wanted to spread Christianity Built Missions (and Presidios) to help them accomplish this goal Clashed heavily with Natives over forcing their culture and way of life on them

Spanish Mission Example

French Social Wanted to spread the Protestant religion Traded and learned from what the Natives already knew and had established

In Common?? Geographic: Economic: Social: Found new routes across the Atlantic Ocean, through the Gulf of Mexico, and across Texas Economic: Found new trade routes and partners Established colonies Riches was the main reason for exploration Social: Brought diseases that killed many Natives Didn’t bring their families from Europe because majority didn’t plan on staying