to escape the cruel conditions on the haciendas (large estate or ranch in Spanish territory) in New Spain. driven to the area by droughts or other natural disasters to escape an oppressive tax system (oppressive – unjust or cruel due to an abuse of power)

A few colonists hoped to become wealthy by trading with the French –an activity that was illegal in New Spain. Colonists hoped to get better jobs on northern ranches.

The Spanish Texans Most were seeking better lives.

Living in the northern provinces of New Spain was difficult. art/p/post/frans/hacienda.jpg

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

Missions By 1750, there were more than 20 Spanish missions in Texas. They were run by Catholic priests. 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

SPANISH CONTROL OF THE TEXAS BORDERLANDS To control the Texas borderlands the Spanish built 4 types of settlements: 1.missions – religious communities 2.presidios – military bases 3.towns – small villages with farmers and merchants 4.ranchos – or ranches

Missions

New Missions along the Rio Grande In the late 1600’s, the Spanish began building missions just south of the Rio Grande. They also built missions among the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico. In 1680, a Pueblo leader named Pope led a revolt, or revolution, against the Spanish. This Pueblo Revolt, drove the Spanish out of New Mexico.

THE SPANISH ESTABLISHED MISSIONS ALONG THE WESTERN RIO GRANDE To provide a place to live for settlers fleeing the Pueblo Revolt To use missions as a base to retake New Mexico Pueblo Revolt – revolution led by Pueblo leader Popé against the Spanish in New Mexico

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.Corpus Christi de la Ysleta.

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

FAILURE OF SPANISH MISSIONS IN EAST TEXAS Location too remote Floods, droughts, disease Internal conflicts Indians not interested in religious instruction

SAN ANTONIO RIVER AREA Midpoint between the East Texas missions and the Rio Grande settlement Mild climate and location by a river Became the site of the most successful Texas missions and settlements

WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND SPAIN AFFECTS TEXAS Led to the Chicken War, which caused Spain to abandon East Texas Re-established Spanish control of the region Separated control of French Louisiana and Spanish Texas

WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND SPAIN AFFECTS TEXAS Chicken War – conflict between French and Spanish in Texas where the French attacked Mission San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes

Spanish Return to Texas France and Spain decide to work together for the missions in East Texas Spain wants to spread Christianity France wants to trade with the Indians Spain builds 6 new missions

Problems with Spanish Missions Missions were over 500 miles away from Spanish settlements Apaches and Comanches raided the supplies wagons Difficult to get supplies to

How to solve the problems Built missions on the San Antonio River as a mid way point –Missions included: De Bexar and Alamo Built El Camino Reel- only road going from the East missions to Mexico

France and Spain at War Spanish abandon East Texas Effect War and Expansion Chicken War (June 1719) Aguayo Expedition Agreement to separate control of French Louisiana and Spanish Texas Expansion of Spanish settlement (Los Adaes, La Bahía) Spanish re-occupation of East Texas

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 Subjects – one who is under the authority of a king or queen

square compound enclosed by four walls towers for lookout points offices for the priests chapel shops (carpentry, ironworking, etc.)

Inside the Mission Compound Tower Used for lookout points. Wall Workshop Used for making things needed in the mission such as cloth or tools. Offices Chapel The Chapel would have been used for baptisms, weddings, and funerals. The land around the mission was used for livestock and for planting crops.

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 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….

Spanish missions in Texas were expected to support themselves. They had to provide everything the mission residents needed to survive.

Spain hoped that the missions would soon start making money for the crown. Successful missions would make them a productive part of New Spain rather than a constant financial drain.

If the settlers at the missions were productive, Spain promised to give them control of the missions. The settlers were promised they could have their own local government. Spain also promised the settlers some land for farming.

El Patronato Real (an agreement) Franciscan priests ran the mission The priests provided support for the mission residents Mission residents made money for the Spanish government The Spanish government provided funding for the Catholic Church The Catholic Church provided priests for the missions

Hard Times in the Missions The number of natives living in the missions went down. Women died giving birth. Native Texans were exposed to disease. Native Texans weren’t used to the food in the mission.

They were not as immediately successful as Spain hoped.

TypePurpose Physical Description Daily Life Mission spread Christianity Make the natives good subjects square compound 4 walls chapel religious teaching work Spanish Settlements

Provided military support for the missions Protected the colonists and mission from attacks by Native Texans Presidio soldiers went after natives who ran away from the mission These soldiers also guarded people bringing supplies and cattle across Texas PURPOSEPURPOSE

The presidios were built from logs, adobe, or stone found around the area. The compounds were rectangular and had tall walls with lookout points. The presidio would have had places for the soldiers to sleep, a chapel, and a storage room. Soldiers would have entered the presidio through a large gate. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Soldiers who lived in the presidio served for 10 years and had a harsh life. They were in danger of attack by Native Texans. They often didn’t get along with the priests in the mission. They weren’t paid very much.

They had to buy their own uniforms and weapons at the presidio’s commissary. (commissary – a store where military personnel can buy equipment and food) Presidio soldiers protected the mission. Soldiers kept natives out of mission.

TypePurpose 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 Spanish Settlements

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.

Mission Government. The ayuntamiento, governing council, enforced royal and local laws. The alcalde, served as mayor, sheriff, and judge of small cases.

Examples of Spanish Influence in Texas Life in Spanish Texas culture (architecture, art, food, language, music) legal traditions cattle ranching traditions and terms routes of first Texas roads Catholic heritage and missions many Spanish place-names

The Spaniards established four civil settlements in colonial Texas: –San Antonio de Bexar –La Bahia –Nacogdoches –Laredo (in Nuevo Santander)

Building Towns To build homes, the settlers used materials from their surroundings. –logs –adobe –stone If settlers didn’t have any of the materials listed above, they built jacals (ha-CAHLS). –Jacals were huts with thatched roofs and walls made from upright poles covered with clay or mud.

Native Texans began adapting to the Spanish culture: Many worked as blacksmiths, gunsmiths, bakers, shoemakers, and transported goods from town to town. Merchants operated general stores, selling food, clothing, tools, and other goods. Education was limited to well-to-do families. Literacy (ability to read and write) was limited to priests, government officials, and wealthy families.

TOWNS Their were no priests or military just regular people. The town had a routine as it was in the mission. Natives even adapted to Spanish life. Women worked hard just as hard as the men did with farm and ranch chores. Some took on extra duties like serving as a mid-wife to help deliver babies.

*GOVERNING THE PEOPLE* Settlers wanted to govern themselves. Spain still tried to control the settlers. –Spanish crown made it illegal to trade with the French. Settlers broke these laws and made the king and queen mad. Frontier towns had a complex government structure. –An alcalde (ahl-CAHL-deh) acted as the mayor, sheriff, and judge in dealing with local issues. –The town council, or ayuntamiento (ah-yoon- tah-MYEN-toh) helped the alcalde.

horse racing festivals outdoor activities telling folktales singing dancing fiddle music These activities brought the settlers closer together. Rodeo%20Gallery.html

PROBLEMS in the TOWNS No running water No sewage services Living conditions were unclean Muddy streets Standing water (breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes) Living conditions led to deadly epidemics of cholera and smallpox.

Life in Spanish Texas wasn’t limited to the missions and presidios. Some colonists lived outside the missions and presidios but kept nearby for protection. These settlers lived on ranchos (ranchos) or farms. They raised cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats, and hogs. –provided fat to make soap and candles –provided hides –provided food

Cattle Industry Begins in Texas Cattle and other livestock were brought to Texas during Spain’s first attempts to colonize the Americas. These animals multiplied. King of Spain gave ranchers large land grants to develop the cattle industry. “Best” cattle region was between San Antonio and the Guadalupe River. The vaqueros (livestock herder or cowhand) learned how to control the livestock.

Ranches Versus Farming Subsistence Farming (where you are able to grow just enough food to feed your family) was possible in the frontier of Texas. But, the dry weather and the hard soil made it difficult to make money farming. Ranching was a better alternative because the cattle could survive and could be moved when the settlers needed to escape attacks by Native Texans. *Compared to farming, ranches could be run by a smaller number of people.

TypePurpose 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