Spanish Influence and Missions Native Texan/ European Explorer Review

Spanish Settlement in Texas In the late 1600s Spain and France were in a fight to claim Texas for their own-Texas lay between Spanish Mexico and French Louisiana In the late 1600s France decided to return to the area after La Salle’s failed colony Worried that France would gain a foothold in Texas, Spain, who had focused on settling parts of Mexico and New Mexico, extended its northern frontier to the north and east The Spaniards retreated, however, when they thought France would assert its claim on East Texas 7 Frenchmen were sent to capture a Spanish mission in East Texas. There were a few priests and friars living at the mission, but were no match for the French soldiers. The French lieutenant, Philippe Blondel, took several items from the mission including several chickens that he tied to his saddle. When the lieutenant went to leave the chickens began squawking flapping wildly. Because of this Blondel’s horse reared up, throwing him to the ground. During this fracas a few of the Spaniards escaped. One made his way to a presidio. (Presidio-a military post or fortified settlement in an area under Spanish control) At the presidio the friar greatly exaggerated the event. As the news spread families, missionaries, and soldiers in East Texas panicked, and left East Texas. Without even trying, the French ran off the Spaniards. This incident became known as the chicken war. And the French never really had a hold on East Texas

Spanish Settlement in Texas When the Spaniards realized the French had abandoned East Texas, they moved back into the region This time, Spain brought more settlers and soldiers to reinforce its authority in Texas With a firm hold on East Texas, Spain begins expansion efforts However, hostile native groups made the Spaniards turn back in the north and west During the 1700s Texas was part of Spain

Presidios Presidios were essential in colonizing Texas Their purpose was to provide military support for missions They protected colonists from Native American attacks

Spanish Missions Catholic missions began being built in Texas in the late 1600s and were Spain’s main tool for colonizing Texas During the late 1600 and early 1700s most Spanish settlers in Texas earned a living as missionaries

Spanish Missions Their purpose was to convert Native Texans to the Catholic faith, teach them to be faithful citizens to the Spanish crown, and they hoped they would become skilled laborers who could be productive for Spain

Spanish Missions The missions were not as successful as hoped for several reasons: In general the Native Texans did not care for mission life and few were converted to the Catholic faith Diseases brought by Spanish missionaries killed many Native Americans who had no immunity to the diseases Native Texans had a hard time adjusting to their new diet-they were used to eating game, roots, fish , fruits, nuts and at the mission they were served only red meat and starches such as corn

Spanish Influence For hundreds of years Spain was a huge influence in Texas those influences still live on in Texas today One of the most important influences has been the language The names of rivers, cities (such as Amarillo), landforms, foods, and everyday items are influenced by the Spanish language People today speak a language that combines Spanish and English words

Native Texan Review How are the Apache and Comanche similar? The Apache and Comanche were both nomadic tribes who followed the buffalo How did the Caddo use the region they lived in to survive? The Caddo used the land to plant crops They used clay to make pottery They built grass houses

Native Texan Review Name some of the Native Texan tribes who lived in the Gulf Coast Plains in the 1500s. The Caddoes, Coahuiltecans, and the Karankawas lived in the Gulf Coast Region in the 1500s How did Pueblo people, such as the Jumano survive in the sparse and tough Mountains and Basins region? They farmed their food

European Explorer Review Why did Spanish explorers, such as Hernando de Soto travel across Texas and other parts of the Americas? de Soto traveled to find gold and riches for Spain Where was Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked? Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked near Galveston

European Explorer Review What was Cibola? Cibola was a legend about seven cities of gold