The Five Missions of San Antonio LIFE IN SPANISH TEXAS The Five Missions of San Antonio The Alamo (1718) San Jose (1720) Espada (1731) San Juan (1731) Photo Credits: The photograph of the Alamo is provided courtesy Roger Burgess. Images of missions San Jose, San Juan, Concepcion, and Espada are provided courtesy the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Concepcion (1731)

Daily Life in the Mission Morning Prayers Instruction in the Catholic faith Breakfast Work all day in the fields, kitchen, or in the workshops 5. After evening meal, more prayers More Catholic school The Native Texans that became part of the mission were often punished by the priest if they did not follow rules. One of the few tribes that did convert was the Coahuiltecans in South Texas

The front of Mission Concepción near San Antonio Spanish Texans The Franciscan order of the Catholic Church ran the Missions. The Indians who were converted became Hispanics or “turned Spanish” The front of Mission Concepción near San Antonio

Tough Going Missions were not all that successful. Mission population shrank. Natives ran away because they disliked mission life. It cost the Spanish government $$$ to keep these missions going.

Consequences Missions brought civilization and religion to Texas. New diseases also came with the missionaries and colonists. The Native Texans had no immunities to these diseases, so many died of influenza and other simple illnesses.

Life in a Presidios Missions were most likely to succeed, if they had a presidio nearby. These military outposts were generally made of adobe, stone, and timber. They had a chapel, barracks for soldiers, storage rooms, and a headquarters building. The soldiers were not paid very much, and their uniforms were often dirty and ragged.

LIFE IN SPANISH SETTLEMENTS Diverse populations Consisted of homes, government buildings and stores Economy based on farming and ranching Social activities centered around church and family

The economy of the settlements was mostly based on farming and ranching. The cattle business helped San Antonio and other towns grow. Vaqueros, or cowboys, worked on ranches near the settlements. They were well known for their skills at horse riding and cattle handling.

The Espada Dam was constructed in 1745 By 1800, only about 3,500 colonists were living in Texas. Most lived in San Antonio and Nacogdoches. The Spanish also developed towns near Presidio La Bahia (Near Victoria) and Laredo. These towns used whatever they could find to create buildings and they often dug acequias (canals) to bring water to the towns. The best preserved of the San Antonio acequias is the one near Mission Espada The Espada Dam was constructed in 1745

= Spanish Government ALCALDE The alcalde was the name for the Spanish official that acted as a mayor, sheriff and judge for the town. The ayuntamiento was the name for the town counsel.

People in towns usually were made up of former presidio soldiers and native Texans that had adapted to Spanish life. They were usually uneducated, as only priest and government officials were literate (could read). Women in the towns were important as they helped with farm and ranch duties as well as preparing food, making clothes, and teaching morals and values to children. Married women in Texas were able to keep property they owned before they were married and owned property separate from their husbands.

Pobladores (towns people) celebrated with horse racing, dances, singing, and telling folk tales. Life in a town could be very hard. There was always the threat of attack. In addition, without running water, sewage was a problem, and therefore disease was always a threat. Muddy streets and standing water helped mosquitoes thrive.

Ruins of a Spanish Colonial Hacienda in Zapata county Haciendas Some settlers started Haciendas, which is a ranch in Spanish territory Ranching took hold in Texas because it was easier than farming. it took only a few workers to man a ranch. Ruins of a Spanish Colonial Hacienda in Zapata county

The Spanish Vaqueros were the original cowboys. Spain began to encourage the cattle industry by given land grants to cattle ranchers. The vaqueros (cowboys) developed many techniques still used today to control livestock. The Spanish Vaqueros were the original cowboys.

SPANISH CULTURE AND TEXAS TODAY Spanish heritage present in Texas architecture and celebrations Apparent in music and food Spanish influence seen in place-names, towns, or rivers Some Spanish missions are still active churches. They laid out the first Texas roads.

End of the Missions and Preservation By the early 1800’s the Franciscans secularized (turned over control) the missions to the Hispanic townspeople of Texas. The Missions fell into disrepair. In the early 1900’s, Adina de Zavala led an effort to save them. They became part of the National Park system in 1975 Adina de Zavala

Imagine… The daily life of a Native Texan before the missionaries arrived. Now imagine the life in a MISSION for a Native Texan after the missionaries arrived Describe what that might have been like. Write two paragraphs comparing life before and after missionaries arrived.